FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

David Lidington: A full list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/transparency-and-data1/hospitality/
	Records of meetings by officials are not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Adam Werritty

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

David Lidington: The information requested is (a) no; (b) yes; (c) no, Our records show that three meetings took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Information on the number of meetings which may have taken place elsewhere, including overseas, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Females

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that women and women's organisations in Afghanistan are included in (a) discussions at the Bonn conference in December on the future of Afghanistan and (b) all ongoing discussions on the future of Afghanistan.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 892W and 893W.

Algeria: Christianity

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Algeria on the prohibition of any Christian activity from taking place outside of a state-recognised church building.

Alistair Burt: We are aware that the Algerian authorities have closed some places of worship which had not been registered, including those of Christian groups, since new regulations governing religion in Algeria came into effect in May 2007. I discussed the situation with a delegation of Algerian Christians when I met them on 26 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the importance of reform with the Algerian authorities during his recent visit, although he did not raise religious freedoms specifically.
	The UK also raises the issue of human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, with the Government of Algeria through a variety of mechanisms including the EU-Algeria Association Agreement. Following a recent visit by Mr Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood policy, the EU and Algerian Government have increased dialogue on these issues, by establishing a sub-committee on political dialogue, security and human rights. Freedom of religion, including for Christian groups, was discussed at the first meeting which was held last month.

British Overseas Territories

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government intends to publish its new strategy for the British Overseas Territories.

Henry Bellingham: The British Government plans to publish a White Paper on the Overseas Territories next year. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on 14 September 2011, Official Report, column 48WS, setting out the main principles of the Government's strategy.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

David Lidington: The figures for the number of Freedom of Information requests received each month since May 2010 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 May 65 
			 June 102 
		
	
	
		
			 July 100 
			 August 97 
			 September 107 
			 October 116 
			 November 118 
			 December 78 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 99 
			 February 138 
			 March 131 
			 April 80 
			 May 137 
			 June 126 
		
	
	Three-monthly figures for whether information was disclosed in full, in part or not at all, and the timeliness of replies to requests are available on the Ministry of Justice website at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm

Departmental Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times his Department sought legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011.

David Lidington: Central records of this information are not maintained, and an accurate answer to this question cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Officials who are involved in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's litigation cases and related matters are in constant contact with counsel.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times his Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011.

David Lidington: Advice from the Department's legal section is fully integrated into the decision-making process within the Department. No record is maintained of the number of times legal advice is provided to Ministers within that process, and the information requested could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s legal department has approximately 70 staff working as legal advisers, support and information staff and maritime policy officers.
	Neither the FCO Services Trading Fund nor the Wilton Park Executive Agency have their own legal departments.
	We do not hold data centrally on the individual roles performed by staff in our non-departmental public bodies and details could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Official items lost, stolen or damaged are all recorded as “losses”. Information is only available for the period since August 2010 without incurring disproportionate cost. Information on the number of mobile telephones lost is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since August 2010, 28 computers, including laptops (12 of these were in the UK and the other 16 were at one of our 260 posts overseas) and 37 BlackBerrys (15 of these were in the UK and the other 22 were at one of our 260 posts overseas) have been lost, stolen or damaged.
	All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) computers, including laptops, and BlackBerrys are encrypted and password protected; and all BlackBerrys that are registered as lost or stolen are blocked remotely, making it impossible for them to be used. The FCO implements security incident management procedures to ensure that the impacts of incidents are risk managed and investigations are undertaken to seek, where possible, to retrieve lost/stolen assets.

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) Ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date.

David Lidington: The number of statutory instruments in the relevant years are as follows:
	1990: 37
	1995: 26
	1999: 28
	2000: 36
	2001: 37
	2002: 26
	2003: 17
	2004: 35
	2005: 24
	2006: 18
	2007: 21
	2008: 13
	2009: 30
	2010: 11
	2011 (to date): 23.
	It is not possible to list the number of ministerial orders made in these years without incurring disproportionate cost, but the ministerial orders will be statutory instruments and will accordingly fall within the number given above for statutory instruments. We believe there were no pieces of secondary legislation issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the relevant years which were not statutory instruments.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether draft answers to parliamentary questions prepared by officials in his Department are cleared by special advisers (a) before and (b) after the relevant Minister.

David Lidington: Ministerial clearance is always the final stage before a parliamentary question is answered.

European Union: Legislative Competence

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings Ministers in his Department have held as part of the Government's examination of the balance of the EU's existing competences since May 2010.

William Hague: I have held regular internal discussions with officials and my ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including the balance of the EU's existing competences.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the student campaign in Iran entitled Can you solve this? regarding the denial of education to members of the Baha'i faith.

Alistair Burt: I met with representatives from the Baha'i community in the UK to discuss this campaign and the wider issues of repression against the Baha'i minority in Iran on 15 September. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has so far received, and replied to, over 2000 emails expressing concern for the closure of the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education. The closure of the Baha'i Institute of Higher Education and arrest of members of its staff form part of a wider pattern of harassment of Baha'is in Iran, including the imprisonment of Baha'i leaders. We regularly raise these issues with the Iranian authorities, including when I met the Iranian chargé d'affaires in August this year. We will continue to press the Iranian Government to accord all their people the right to freedom of religion. With our EU partners, the UK has taken co-ordinated action to address Iran's human rights record, imposing travel bans and asset freezes on over 60 Iranians responsible for human rights violations, including Government Ministers and members of the judiciary.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent information he has received on denial of education in Iran to individuals and groups other than members of the Baha'i faith.

Alistair Burt: Access to higher education in Iran is noteworthy with roughly one in 20 Iranians in full-time university study, and over 60% of university attendants are female. This is to be commended, and every effort should be made by Iran to afford all citizens access to education without discrimination. Reports of discrimination, including on the basis of religion and ethnicity, are a serious concern which we have raised with the Iranian authorities.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent information he has received of members of the Baha'i faith in Iran being prevented from studying; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 305W.

Liam Fox

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on meetings between the right hon. Member for North Somerset, when Secretary of State for Defence, and representatives of the Government of (a) Israel, (b) Pakistan, (c) Afghanistan, (d) India, (e) the US, (f) Sri Lanka and (g) Egypt.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Members

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings (a) he and (b) ministerial colleagues in his Department held with backbench hon. Members who are members of the Conservative party between Monday 17 October and Tuesday 25 October 2011.

William Hague: It has been the custom of successive Governments that Ministers meet hon. and right hon. Friends in the normal course of business.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 534W, on prisoners, whether he has recently (a) raised concerns with and (b) issued statements to the government of Israel in relation to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Alistair Burt: I discussed this matter during my visit in June with the Minister of Justice, indicating the UK's concerns about both the detention and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, including children. The British ambassador to Tel Aviv most recently raised the issue on 26 October during his visit to the Israel Prison Service complex, at the invitation of the Public Security Minister, where there are around 4,500 security detainees. He raised concerns over visitation rights and the treatment of minors, particularly cuffing and shackling. In his discussions with the Public Security Minister, the ambassador stressed the importance the UK placed on Israel fulfilling its obligations under international law.
	The Government of Israel has reaffirmed to us its commitment to treating prisoners in line with international human rights standards. The UK will continue to monitor the situation with regard to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and encourage the Government of Israel to meet its stated commitments.

Office of UK Permanent Representative to EU: Manpower

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals were working (a) in UKREP in each of the last 20 years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: holding answer 7 November 2011
	There are currently approximately 130 Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff working in UKREP Brussels. This figure includes UK-based civil servants and staff employed locally. For operational and security reasons, we cannot provide a more detailed breakdown.
	The number of staff has not changed significantly in the last three years.
	Previous figures were compiled on a different basis and could be reconciled with the most recent figures only at disproportionate cost.

Sri Lanka

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions the British ambassador to Sri Lanka or his senior staff have met hon. Members in Sri Lanka in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Hon. Members visit our global network of posts frequently and we do not hold a central record of meetings. Our high commission in Sri Lanka confirms the following meetings:
	October 2010
	A delegation from the UK Commonwealth Parliamentary Association that included the hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant); the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond); the hon. Member for Southend West (Mr Amess); the right hon. Member for Torfaen (Paul Murphy); and the hon. Member for East Lothian (Fiona O'Donnell).
	February 2011
	The hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mark Field);
	The hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell);
	The hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann).
	July 2011
	The right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox).
	October 2011
	The hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard).
	I also visited Sri Lanka on an official visit in February 2011.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it remains his policy that the implementation of the proposals in the Strategic Defence and Security Review will not result in strategic shrinkage.

David Lidington: holding answer 7 November 2011
	Yes.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the views of the general public in Yemen on the proposed Gulf Co-operation Council agreement on a political transition.

Alistair Burt: As in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa, Yemenis have been energised by popular protests starting in Tunisia which have pressed for democratic change. From late January 2011 we have witnessed the growth of widespread protest movements across Yemen. On the anti-Government side these have been largely made up of students, some politically affiliated and civil society and have received the support of the official opposition grouping JMP, and elements of the armed forces. At the same time we have also seen large pro-Government demonstrations in support of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
	The anti-Government protest movement across Yemen has made plain its principal demand, that President Saleh step down. The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Initiative meets this demand in its outline of a staged plan for a formal transfer of power leading to the formation of a National Unity Government and early presidential elections. The Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) supports the aims of the Initiative and has already signed the GCC Initiative, as have representatives of the ruling party (GPC). The protest movement, representative of large numbers of Yemen's students and civil society, is diverse and lacks a single voice. In meetings with its members British embassy officials have seen a range of views, some aligned with the JMP and its support of the GCC Initiative, others not. A major theme is concern with accountability and justice for those suspected of human rights abuses and corruption.
	The highly volatile security situation in Sana'a, the capital, and across Yemen constrains the ability of our embassy staff to travel widely in the country and interact freely with as many Yemenis as we would like. But our ambassador reports a continued desire for change among many Yemenis.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the response of the general public in Yemen to UN Security Council Resolution 2014.

Alistair Burt: In meetings with the leaders of the official opposition and judging from public statements by leaders of the protest movements there is widespread support for the UN in maintaining, through its adoption of Resolution 2014, pressure on president Saleh and his government. The Yemeni regime has also welcomed the resolution and undertaken to respond positively to it. Tawakkol Karman, Nobel prize winner and civil right activist, referred to it as a “good start”. There is a sense among protestors that the UN can do more, but the resolution with its clause on reviewing the situation after 30 days sends a strong message to the Yemeni leadership and opposition of global concern about the deteriorating situation in Yemen and the urgent need for a political settlement. In particular it sends a clear message to President Saleh that he should sign the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative without delay.
	The general public, specifically those involved in anti-government protests and on the receiving end of lethal force by government security forces, should be encouraged by the resolution's clear condemnation of human rights abuses by all sides and the call for those responsible to be held accountable. Protestors from all camps are vocal on the issues of justice and accountability.
	The will for concerted international action to urge president Saleh to follow through with his promises to transfer power is strong and growing. We are making clear our concern over the economic, humanitarian and security situation in Yemen. All our efforts are focused on achieving a peaceful political settlement. But ultimately that choice rests in Yemeni hands.

WALES

Adam Werrity

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) officials of her Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Mr Jon Moulton and (vi) Mr Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

David Jones: No such meetings have taken place.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in her Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the average increase was in each such year.

David Jones: Staff on full-time equivalent earnings of under £21,000 a year are eligible for a pay increase of at least £250. Six staff in the Wales Office were eligible for these payments in both financial years, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
	Eight staff on loan from the Welsh Government received progression payments to which they had a contractual entitlement in 2010-11. Two staff on loan from the Welsh Government (WG) received the progression payments in 2011-12. The average increase arising from progression payments for both years was around 4%. Nine staff on loan from the WG who were not eligible for a progression payment received a one-off pay uplift of £400 regardless of grade in 2010-11.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in her Department received a bonus in each year since 2007.

David Jones: Ministry of Justice staff working at the Wales Office are entitled to non-consolidated performance related pay for outstanding performance and, under the reward and recognition scheme, for additional work performed. All payments are non-pensionable lump sums. The total number of officials receiving these since 2007 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of officials 
			 2007-08 14 
			 2008-09 7 
			 2009-10 9 
			 2010-11 10 
			 2011-12 8

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010;
	(2)  what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private secretaries in her Department;
	(3)  what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010;
	(4)  what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in her Department.

Cheryl Gillan: Information relating to security vetting is publicly available in the booklet entitled HMG Personnel Security Controls, which is available from the Cabinet Office website at
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
	This booklet describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks. It would not however, be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Wales Office are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who within the department has access to sensitive material and this could be used for targeting purposes.
	Details of the Wales Office special adviser is available in the quarterly publication of the list of special advisers which is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
	We do not have any other ministerial appointed policy advisers.
	All vetting for the Wales Office is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Justice, who liaise with the Defence Vetting Agency to undertake the CTC, SC and DV checks.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were (a) granted and (b) rejected in each of the last three years.

Lynne Featherstone: Details of the number of licences granted and rejected under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the last three years are shown in the following table.
	A feature of the regulatory regime under the 1986 Act is the discussion that often takes place at an early stage between applicants (or prospective applicants) and the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate. This means that proposals unlikely to meet the Act's stringent requirements are revised or withdrawn before formal refusal becomes necessary.
	
		
			  Granted in 2008 Refused in 2008 Granted in 2009 Refused in 2009 Granted in 2010 Refused in 2009 
			 Project licences 695 0 541 0 515 0 
			 Personal licences 2,835 0 2,645 0 2,664 0 
			 Certificates of designation 2 0 7 0 4 0

Animal Experiments: EU Law

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the transposition of European directive 2010/63/EU will have on the extent of legislative restrictions on the use of (a) endangered species, (b) neuromuscular blocking agents, (c) dogs, cats and equids and (d) purpose breeding of quail and ferrets.

Lynne Featherstone: The use of (a) endangered species, (b) neuromuscular blocking agents, (c) dogs, cats and equids, and (d) the purpose breeding of quail and ferrets are all matters on which views were sought in the public consultation on the options for transposition of European directive 201/63/EU which closed on 5 September 2011.
	We are now analysing the responses to the public consultation and will announce decisions on these and other matters covered by the public consultation in due course. We plan to publish a report on the public consultation by the end of 2011.

Animal Experiments: EU Law

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Articles 4 and 13 of European directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation, whether it is her policy to require (a) an alternative method or testing strategy not involving the use of live animals to be used whenever it is scientifically feasible and (b) an alternative method or testing strategy not involving the use of live animals to be used whenever it is scientifically feasible and if the method is recognised under Community legislation.

Lynne Featherstone: In the public consultation on the options for transposition of European directive 2010/63/EU we indicated our intention to transpose article 4, on the principle of replacement, reduction and refinement, and article 13, on the choice of methods, as they stand.
	We are now considering the responses to the public consultation and will announce any further decisions on these issues in due course. We plan to publish a report on the public consultation by the end of 2011.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas companies, designated as breeding and supply establishments to supply non-human primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research, use wild populations of primates for breeding purposes.

Lynne Featherstone: Of the overseas breeding centres supplying animals to the UK during the past two years we understand that two use wild populations of non-human primates for breeding purposes. Both have policies for reducing dependence on wild-caught animals for future breeding stock at least in relation to the animals likely to be bred and supplied to the United Kingdom.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas companies, designated as breeding and supply establishments to supply primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research, wean infants from their mothers at six months or younger.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has no jurisdiction or remit to designate or approve overseas breeding and supplying centres. The use of non-human primates from an overseas source in regulated procedures is authorised only when the centre in question has demonstrated that animals bred and supplied to licensees in the United Kingdom will have been weaned at more than six months of age except in rare cases where infants have been either abandoned or orphaned.

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of anti-Semitic attacks during Jewish high holy days in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011; and if she will make a statement. [R]

Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
	Individual police forces collate and analyse intelligence on the number of anti-Semitic attacks, in order to inform local operational decisions and to provide adequate protection at times of demand. In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers analyses this intelligence, to inform forces of any emerging challenges. Data on attacks on Jewish High Holy Days are not separately identified.

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitic attacks; and if she will make a statement. [R]

Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
	Hate crime, including that targeting a person's religion, is an issue the Government take very seriously. We are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and other partners to encourage the reporting of all hate crime and improve the response of the police and other criminal justice agencies to ensure better protection for victims.
	The cross-Government working group on anti-Semitism and the police regularly meet representatives of the Jewish community to discuss the protection of the Jewish community against anti-Semitic attacks. The anti-Semitism working group and the cross-Government Hate Crime Strategy Board have a number of actions in train to tackle anti-Semitism, which are reassessed on a regular basis. These include funding the security needs of Jewish faith schools within the state school sector, challenging anti-Semitism in online media, improving the recording of all hate crime, including anti-Semitic hate crimes, and improving the training of hate crime prosecutors.

Asylum

David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy asylum cases have been settled in Ashton-under-Lyne constituency in each year since March 2007; how many such cases have resulted in the asylum seeker being (a) removed, (b) granted leave to remain and (c) granted discretionary leave to remain.

Damian Green: Information is not held in relation to the specific date on which individuals move to certain areas. We have therefore provided figures for the number of legacy asylum cases based on the applicant's last known address with postcodes in the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency. The total number of legacy cases in the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency is 130. Of those, 105 have resulted in the asylum seeker being granted leave to remain; five have resulted in the asylum seeker being granted discretionary leave to remain and five have resulted in the asylum seeker being removed.
	Note
	Figures rounded to the nearest 5 (- = 0, * = 1 or 2). Figures may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. Figures were extracted on 26 October 2011.

Asylum

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what equality impact assessment has been carried out in respect of the reforms proposed as part of the Asylum Improvement Project; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Asylum Improvement Project (AIP) spans a large number of pilots/projects. Equality impact assessments (now called policy equality statements) have been completed for AIP projects/pilots where appropriate. For example policy equality statements (PES) have been completed for:
	i-Apply asylum support applications (online asylum support applications)
	Experian checks on support applications
	Electronic appeal bundles for asylum support appeals
	Where no PES has been completed, this may be for one of a variety of reasons:
	one is currently being completed; the pilot/project has not involved the introduction of a new process or policy, or because the pilot/project may alter during its life, and by virtue of being a test of a new way of working, results are not yet known and therefore a decision cannot yet be taken on roll out and PES requirements.

Asylum

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on measures to improve gender sensitivity in the asylum process; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is working closely with a range of key corporate partners in developing improvements to the asylum system, with the ambition of running an asylum system which is truly gender sensitive. In particular, the agency recognises that women can face particular forms of persecution that are quite often different from those faced by men, and is committed to ensuring that women's claims for asylum are dealt with as fairly and sensitively as possible. The agency is looking to develop a system which caters for, and reflects, the needs of women.

Asylum

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by the UK Border Agency's Case Assurance and Audit Unit to deal with casework.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency's Case Assurance and Audit Unit employs a total of 126.87 full-time equivalent staff.

Asylum: Employment

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have (a) applied for and (b) been granted the Right to Work after 12 months in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not routinely collect statistics relating to the number of asylum applicants who are given permission to work. This is because an application for permission to work is not recorded as a separate case type on the agency's case information database. Any application of this nature is instead dealt with by the case owner as part of the application for asylum with the outcome being recorded within the case notes. To provide the complete set of data requested it would be necessary to look at each individual application for asylum that has exceeded the 12 month point in the last five years and record whether an application for permission to work has been made and if so granted. The cost of doing so would be disproportionate.
	However, between mid August and the end of November 2010 the agency did run an exercise to collate statistics on the number of asylum seekers who were granted permission to work. Those figures are as follows:
	
		
			 Number of asylum seekers granted permission to work between 13 August and 24 November 2010 
			  Number 
			 Total applications received from 13 August to 24 November 188 
		
	
	
		
			 Total grants from 13 August to 24 November 88 
			 Totals refusals from 13 August to 24 November 100 
		
	
	These figures are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics.

Charities

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants her Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: Although the Home Office and UK Border Agency have made grant payments to fund charitable organisations over the past five years, and may continue to do so in the future, it would not be possible to fully answer this question to the level of detail required without incurring disproportionate cost. Our systems record payments to not for profit organisations which includes charities but also other philanthropic institutions and social enterprises. Hence, to do so would require investigating more than 300 not-for-profit recipients, identifying whether they make payments to charities as a lead partner.
	As with all grant funding in the Home Office and agencies, grants paid to charities are monitored to ensure that recipients deliver the objectives of individual projects as well as contributing to the strategic aims of the Department.
	The Criminal Records Bureau, Identity and Passport Service and the National Fraud Authority have not provided any funding to charities over the previous five years, and have not allocated any budget to fund charities over the spending review period.

Civil Disorder

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to facilitate co-operation between police forces in the event that they are called to deal with widespread public disorder; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 makes provision for the Home Secretary to issue a Strategic Policing Requirement to which all police and crime commissioners and chief constables will have regard. It will set out the policing capabilities that are expected to be delivered by police forces working together in order to tackle national threats such as terrorism, public disorder and civil unrest, organised crime and civil emergencies.
	Police force co-operation and requests for mutual aid under section 24 of the Police Act 1996 are co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officer's Police National Information Co-ordination Centre.

Crime: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the level of crime in rural areas.

James Brokenshire: In 2010-11, there were 593,146 offences recorded by the police in those forces deemed to be rural according to 'A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods' guidance. This represents a fall of 4% over 2009-10. Further detail is provided in the table.
	
		
			 Offences recorded in rural police force areas  (1) 
			 Offence group 2009-10 2010-11 % change 
			 Violence against the person 126,226 123,637 -2 
			 Sexual offences 8,938 9,496 6 
			 Robbery 3,386 3,551 5 
			 Burglary 72,186 71,481 -1 
			 Offences against vehicles 58,904 53,253 -10 
			 Other theft offences 153,120 155,605 2 
			 Fraud and forgery 16,445 15,648 -5 
			 Criminal damage 137,982 121,166 -12 
			 Drug offences 28,423 28,484 0 
			 Other offences 11,292 10,825 -4 
			 Total 616,902 593,146 -4 
			 (1 )Forces deemed ‘most rural’ and ‘less rural’ according ‘A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods’ (ACORN). Forces are: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Durham, Dyfed-Powys, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk. North Yorkshire, North Wales, Suffolk, West Mercia and Wiltshire.

Criminal Records: Databases

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fee she proposes will be payable for individual subscriptions to her planned online criminal records system.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave during the Public Bill Committee, (Bill 146), sixteenth sitting, 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 643.

Departmental Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, columns 957-8W, on departmental procurement, how many contracts involved the provision of consultancy services; how many contracts involved the employment of a consultant within her Department; whether any such consultants remained in employment on the latest date for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 958W, on departmental procurement, two contracts involved the provision of consultancy services. These contracts continue and consultants remain engaged.
	The Department's commercial objectives require consultancy services to be commissioned in terms of defined output, not in terms of individuals assigned by the firms. Each consultancy requirement is scrutinised, to prove operational necessity and to ensure that the need cannot be met by permanent staff.
	The Department has spent £28 million less in the first six months compared to the same period last year.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

Damian Green: Information up to June 2011 is set out in the following tables. Information on Freedom of Information Act performance for Government Departments in the 3(rd) and 4(th) quarters of 2011 will be published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in late 2011 or early 2012. The most recent MoJ statistics are available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/index.htm
	
		
			 Table 1: Freedom of information requests received by the Home Office, May 2010 to June 2011 
			  2010 
			  May June July August September October November December 
			 Requests received 200 262 278 234 268 279 327 221 
			 Substantive response within 20 working days 145 191 216 193 221 229 254 191 
			 Holding response within 20 working days 55 76 61 41 47 49 73 30 
			 No substantive response within 40 working days 10 10 18 7 6 13 15 7 
			 No substantive response yet issued 0 0 0 0 0 0 ¦0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  2011 
			  January February March April May June 
			 Requests received 272 311 284 217 263 306 
			 Substantive response within 20 working days 243 266 246 194 239 275 
			 Holding response within 20 working days 29 44 38 23 24 30 
			 No substantive response within 40 working days 9 9 12 8 6 7 
			 No substantive response yet issued 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Note: The columns do not sum because (a) in some cases both a holding and a substantive response may have been sent within 20 days and (b) in some cases a holding response may have been sent within 20 days but no substantive response was sent within 40 days. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Freedom of information responses sent by the Home Office, May 2010 to June 2011 
			  2010 
			  May June July August September October November December 
			 Information released in full 68 79 106 83 100 89 87 108 
			 Information released in part 19 22 24 48 35 37 32 30 
			 Information withheld in full 13 25 11 15 56 23 17 15 
		
	
	
		
			  2011 
			  January February March April May June 
			 Information released in full 95 97 111 76 81 95 
			 Information released in part 39 34 43 35 28 32 
			 Information withheld in full 12 17 18 24 27 38 
			 Note: The figures do not include cases where no information was held or where the cost limit was invoked.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by her Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Damian Green: Information on Freedom of Information Act performance for Government Departments is published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The most recent MoJ statistics are available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/index.htm
	Figures on requests refused because they relate to commercially sensitive information are published in the quarterly MoJ statistics, Statistics for the 3(rd) and 4(th) quarters will be published by MoJ in late 2011 or early 2012. Figures on requests which were not answered because to do so would exceed the cost limit, or because they were vexatious or repeat requests, are published in the annual MoJ statistics. The annual statistics for 2011 will be published in early 2012.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Minister in her Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Damian Green: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires that a Minister must determine whether an exemption applies only in the case of the exemption under section 36 of the Act. Any Minister may determine that section 36 applies. The application of other exemptions in the Act is determined by officials.

Departmental Health Insurance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department pays for private medical insurance for its officials; and what the cost of such payments was in the last year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: holding answer 7 November 2011
	No officials in the Home Office or its Agencies (UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau) are provided with private health insurance as part of their employment package.

Departmental Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile phones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Following the Government's commitment to transparency, in April 2011 the Home Office published historical figures (between 2005-10) for ICT losses. In future the Home Office aims to publish this data annually.
	This data can be found on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/transparency/lost-mobiles-laptops-media/lost-ict?view=Binary

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on new furnishings in the last year.

Nick Herbert: The Department's expenditure on furniture and fittings in 2010-11 was £4.251 million. Expenditure in 2009-10 was £3.14 million, and previous to that in 2008-09 it was £5.956 million. Breaking these figures down to costs for furniture alone could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Children

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions control and restraint has been used on children as part of the enforced removal process in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: Detainee custody officers (DCOs) must be certificated by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), to carry out their duties and to exercise powers, one of the conditions of which is that they have undergone training on restraint techniques approved by the National Offender Management Service. Officers receive refresher training every 12 months. Separate training is provided for those involved in the overseas escorting of children, using non-pain compliant techniques, Physical Control in Care (PCC).
	Any use of restraint is a matter of last resort when all other avenues of persuasion have failed and there is no other option to effect the person's co-operation. Its use must be justified, proportionate and for the shortest possible period to achieve the objective. Officers must report in detail where it has been used.
	Restraint on a child is only ever used where it is strictly necessary to prevent self-harm or to protect others and property. In very exceptional circumstances officers may be given authority to physically intervene to enforce a child's removal where, despite attempts to persuade them to comply, they refuse to do so. Interventions may start with guiding or shepherding, before PCC techniques are used.
	Information on the number of occasions where DCOs physically intervened in the case of children is not available prior to 2008 and there are no occasions of such interventions in 2011.
	Of the 1,124 enforced removals and notified voluntary departure of persons aged under 18 in 2008, there were five instances.
	Of the 1,007 enforced removals and notified voluntary departure of persons aged under 18 in 2009, there were eight instances.
	Of the 737 enforced removals and notified voluntary departure of persons aged under 18 in 2010, there was one instance.
	All interventions occurred at the point of boarding an aircraft other than one in 2009 in an immigration removal centre.
	There have been no interventions at Cedars pre-departure accommodation.
	The number of people aged under 18 removed as enforced removals and notified voluntary departures from the UK in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (2010 figures are provisional), are a subset of published information compiled under National Statistics protocols available on the Home Office Science, Research and Statistics web pages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
	Data on the number of occasions where DCOs physically intervened in the case of children is based on management information, and is not subject to the detailed checks carried out for National Statistics. It is provisional and subject to change. A child is defined as a person aged under 18 years of age.

Deportation: Offenders

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the report by the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency entitled, A thematic inspection of how the UK Border Agency manages foreign national prisoners, what steps she is taking to revise the risk assessment of ex-offenders contained in the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance.

Damian Green: Risk of harm to the public is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to detain under immigration powers a foreign national offender who is liable to deportation, but it is not the only consideration. There will be circumstances in which it will be legitimate to detain even where there is no identified risk of re-offending, for example where there is a significant risk of the individual absconding or where the individual's own lack of co-operation is a determinative factor preventing removal.
	Risk assessments provided by the National Offender Management Service will always be taken into account, where they are available, when deciding whether or not to detain a foreign national offender under immigration powers. Where such assessments are not available (for example, where the person is not subject to monitoring by the Probation Service) managers will make a decision based on the specific facts of the case.
	The UK Border Agency accept the need to ensure that detention is used appropriately and lawfully and have already put in place a package of measures to improve the quality of detention decisions and documentation. For example the detention review template and guidance have been revised to better support caseworkers in making evidence-based detention decisions and demonstrating progress since the last 28 day review. The UK Border Agency will also review the template and guidance for making the initial detention decision to ensure that all detention decisions are based on a sound consideration of the evidence.

Entry Clearances

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the length of time required to process the legacy visa applications by the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: In 2006 the Government committed to a review of all older unresolved asylum cases by summer 2011. This was achieved by March 2011. A total of 500,500 cases were reviewed as part of the programme.
	As Jonathan Sedgwick, then Acting Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency, reported to the Home Affairs Committee on 12 September, 479,000 of the 500,500 cases in the legacy programme have been fully concluded. There are 18,000 cases that have received an initial decision but have barriers to full conclusion, which continue to be actively managed by a dedicated casework unit.

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of her Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies.

Damian Green: 63 officials were working in the Legal Adviser's Branch of the Department on 9 June 2011 (the date when the June 2011 numbers were updated) who also provide most of the legal advice for the Department's agencies and some of its non-departmental bodies.
	The Government Equalities Office, part of the Home Office since 1 April 2011, employs eight lawyers and one administrative officer. The number of staff working in the legal teams of the Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies is as follows:
	The UK Border Agency Cash Forfeiture Team: 20
	National Policing Improvement Agency: 10
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission: 81
	The Independent Safeguarding Authority: two
	The Serious Organised Crime Agency: 61
	The Independent Police Complaints Commission: 15.
	Not all of the officials/staff mentioned above work full-time, and the figures include support staff as well as lawyers.

Public Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to put in place a right to provide for public sector workers to take over the running of services; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department has taken to encourage the development of public service mutuals in its area of responsibility; and if she will make a statement.
	(3)  how many applications from employees to run services for which her Department is directly responsible she has received since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Government have stated their commitment that every Department will put in place rights to provide for public sector workers to take over the running of services. The Localism Bill, currently going through Parliament, contains a proposed community right to challenge, which will enable local authority employees to express an interest in taking over the service they deliver.
	The Government also want to give as many public sector workers as possible the right to mutualise. However, some areas of the public sector—including frontline policing—are exempt because of operational or security concerns.
	Currently, on the authority of the chief constable and police authority, police forces may choose to outsource a variety of functions including but not limited to human resources, finance, IT support, legal services, translation services, forensic and scientific testing services, vehicle maintenance and running emergency call centres.
	We are exploring options for how rights could be extended to public sector workers within the police service, including working with other Government Departments to determine whether existing models such as pathfinder projects, work force engagement or employee-led spin-offs are appropriate.

Riot Control Weapons

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that in cases of public disorder, police forces deploy water cannon before baton rounds are deployed.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The decision to deploy a particular less-lethal weapon is an operational decision for chief officers.

UK Border Agency

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria will be used to determine which of the UK Border Agency hubs will be closed in order to meet the target reduction from 70 to 25 as outlined in the Agency's business plan.

Damian Green: Plans for consolidating our network of hubs are predicated on UK Border Agency, Home Office and wider Government objectives.
	At the top of these objectives, the criteria used for determining the location of our future hubs are based on the need to "secure the border", and "reduce costs and improve customer service". Hub closures will be targeted and sequenced in locations where they can provide the greatest contribution to the delivery of these objectives.

UK Border Agency: Finance

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding will be available to the UK Border Agency's regional divisions of (a) London and the South East, (b) the Midlands and the East of England, (c) the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) the North West, (e) Scotland and Northern Ireland and (f) Wales and South West in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2014-15.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is not in a position to confirm the funding for future years for its regional divisions, as the business planning process for 2012-13 is not scheduled to be completed until March 2012. Once completed, the agency will publish the business plan on its website, which will show its overall budget settlement. Figures for 2014-15 are expected to be available in March 2014.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there have been in the number of staff employed by the UK Border Agency in (a) London and the south-east, (b) midlands and the east of England, (c) north-east, Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) north-west, (e) Scotland and Northern Ireland and (f) Wales and south-west since the comprehensive spending review in 2010.

Damian Green: Since the comprehensive spending review staff numbers in the named regions above have changed as shown in the following table:
	
		
			 FTE  (1) 
			 Region 31 March 2011 30 September 2011 
			 (a) London and the south-east 12,886 12,189 
			 (b) Midlands and the east of England 1,360 1,281 
			 (c) North East, Yorkshire and Humber(2) 2,402 2,327 
			 (d) North-west(2) 2,570 2,508 
			 (e) Scotland and Northern Ireland 618 604 
			 (f) Wales and south-west 611 598 
			 Overseas(3) 2,126 2,130 
			 Other(4) 7 5 
			 UK Border Agency total 22,580 21,642 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent actuals, excluding staff on unpaid maternity leave, career break, special leave, or loan to other Government Departments. (2) Some locations have been reattributed between these areas following Cabinet Office guidance. (3) European posting and international visa function based abroad. (4) Staff whose location was not recorded centrally.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are being used to implement job reductions in the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: As part of the work force planning process directors must submit work force plans to deliver the services they are responsible for within allocated budgets. Where headcount reductions are necessary it is for directors to formulate proposals as to how they will be achieved.
	Strategies for reduction in UK Border Agency include reorganisation and more efficient ways of working, a recruitment freeze and voluntary exit schemes. Where plans are likely to result in surplus staff who may be at risk of redundancy, directors are required to follow the process set out in the Home Office Restructuring, Redeployment and Redundancy Policy.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency officers were employed in each of the agency's regions in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011.

Damian Green: The periods requested cover both the Border and Immigration Agency and the UK Border Agency as shown. The increase in staffing between 2008 and 2010 is the machinery of government transfer of border detection from HM Revenue and Customs and UK Visas from Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the UK Border Agency.
	
		
			  Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) UK Border Agency (UKBA) 
			 Region 31 March 2007 FTE  (1) 31 March 2008 FTE 31 March 2010 FTE 30 September 2011 FTE 
			 (a) London and the South East 12,101 11,464 13,762 12,189 
			 (b) Midlands and the East of England 930 892 1,638 1,281 
			 (c) North East, Yorkshire and Humber(2) 2,478 2,433 2,562 2,327 
		
	
	
		
			 (d) North West(2) 2,438 2,485 2,887 2,508 
			 (e) Scotland and Northern Ireland 386 403 652 604 
			 (f) Wales and South West 269 360 638 598 
			 Overseas(3) 90 87 2,309 2,130 
			 Other(4) 205 133 18 5 
			 UK Border Agency total 18,896 18,258 24,467 21,642 
			 (1 )Full-time equivalent actuals, excluding staff on unpaid maternity leave, career break, special leave, or loan to other Government Departments. (2) Some locations have been reattributed between these areas following Cabinet Office guidance. (3) The 2007-08 figures relate to European posting, the 2010-11 figures include the international visa function. (4) Staff whose location was not recorded centrally.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Welsh Grand Committee: Wrexham

Jessica Morden: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the total cost was of holding the Welsh Grand Committee in Wrexham including staffing, accommodation and travel.

John Thurso: The cost to the House of holding the meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee in the Guildhall, Wrexham, on 20 October is estimated at £7,600. This figure includes sound recording and transmission, interpretation, accommodation, subsistence and travel, and a small amount of overtime. It does not include Members' travel costs, which fall to be reimbursed by IPSA, nor staff salary costs that would have been incurred anyway. It also includes costs of an earlier visit to Wrexham by staff to plan the arrangements for the meeting.

TREASURY

Bank Services

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much funding was allocated to the devolved Administration in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales under the provisions of the Dormant Bank Accounts Act 2008 in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 1 November 2011
	The first release of dormant accounts monies from the Reclaim Fund to the Big Lottery Fund was in August 2011. No funding was allocated to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through the dormant accounts scheme before 2011.
	So far £36.5 million has been released to the Big Lottery Fund. The Big Lottery Fund apportions dormant accounts in the following proportions:
	England: 83.9%
	Wales: 4.9%
	Scotland: 8.4%
	Northern Ireland: 2.8%.
	This means that so far this year, approximately £3.06 million has been allocated to Scotland, £1.79 million has been allocated to Wales, and £1.02 million has been allocated to Northern Ireland.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Chloe Smith: HM Treasury officials normally determine whether exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (the FOI Act) apply to requests received by the Department.
	The exception to this is exemptions under section 36 of the FOI Act (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) which can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a 'qualified person' that the exemption is engaged. In relation to information held by Government, the qualified person must be a Minister. The Economic Secretary, as HM Treasury's departmental Minister, handles section 36 cases. However, all HM Treasury Ministers are qualified persons for this purpose and should the Economic Secretary be unavailable, for example during recess, the decision will fall to the appropriate duty Minister.
	Having obtained the opinion of the qualified person on whether or not an exemption under section 36 applies, HM Treasury officials then conduct a second test to determine whether the information should be released m the public interest or protected.

Growing Places Fund

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 18 September 2011, where the funding for the Growing Places Fund will come from.

Amber Rudd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the letter from his Department of 13 October 2011, reference 2/05396/2011, in response to the letter from the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 19 September 2011, reference AR/EOR/00483, on the Growing Places Fund, when he expects to announce further details of the scheme.

Danny Alexander: The Departments for Communities and Local Government and Transport will together contribute £250 million towards the Growing Places Fund. The remaining £250 million will be made available from the reserve. DCLG and DFT are currently developing the detail of Government's proposals, including how money will be allocated and the mechanism by which the fund will operate. A prospectus setting out details was published yesterday.

HM Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests to HM Revenue and Customs from (a) the police, (b) trading standards authorities and (c) the Serious Fraud Office for disclosure of information for criminal purposes made under the IDG60190 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 standard procedure for disclosing any information for criminal purposes were refused in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Tax year Police Trading Standards Serious Fraud Office 
			 2009-10 473 60 1 
			 2010-11 319 38 0 
			 2011-12 year to date 288 29 0 
		
	
	This excludes any rejections made outside of the centralised team that deals with ATCSA requests but the number of such requests made is minimal as these will only made in exceptional circumstances.

Insolvency

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on director behaviour in the event that fewer actions are taken by insolvency practitioners as a result of implementation of the proposed changes to conditional fee arrangements and after the event insurance in insolvency litigation;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effect on HM Revenue and Customs revenue of the proposed changes to conditional fee arrangements and after the event insurance in insolvency litigation in each of the next 10 years.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
	An updated impact assessment was published alongside the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill which includes provisions on the proposed reform of no win no fee conditional fee agreements. Officials are continuing to discuss the likely impacts of these changes in relation to insolvency proceedings.

Pay: Software

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which providers of payroll software his Department has met to discuss upgrading their products to supply real time PAYE information.

David Gauke: HMRC has been liaising with all payroll software developers registered with HMRC's Software Developers' Support Team since autumn 2010. HMRC has held a number of workshops for payroll software developers to discuss Real Time Information (RTI). These were attended by around 160 developers representing almost 120 software houses. In addition, HMRC officials have held regular meetings with the payroll software industry representative organisations.
	A list of respondents to the latest consultation on RTI can be found in the Summary of Responses document published on 30 September 2011 on the HMRC website.

PAYE

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has completed (a) repaying overpaid tax and (b) collecting underpaid tax as a result of miscalculations of tax liability by HM Revenue and Customs in the PAYE system.

David Gauke: The PAYE system collects tax on account of an individual's liability for the year using code numbers based on the information available at the start of the tax year. For those who move in and out of work, have fluctuating income, or have expenses and benefits, in year PAYE deductions do not always equal the tax due. For this reason at the end of each tax year, HMRC checks that customers have paid the right amount of tax—usually around 85% of people have paid the right amount. This is part of the normal PAYE cycle of work and has happened each year since PAYE was introduced in 1944.
	For the tax year 2010-11 HMRC have completed repaying those customers where they have received all the information from the employer or pension provider. HMRC are now working through the cases where the customer has underpaid and, as last year, where they have received all the information they will complete the process in time to adjust customers' 2012-13 tax codes.

Population: Infrastructure

Angie Bray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse of providing public infrastructure to accommodate future population growth.

Danny Alexander: Investment in our infrastructure will be vital, the Government estimate some £200 billion of investment in our infrastructure between 2010-15 from both the public and private sector.
	In considering planned investment the Government and private investors estimate the level of future demand, population growth being one of a number of factors. Population estimates are subject to change and the impact of an increasing population on our infrastructure need may also change.
	Last year the Government published the National Infrastructure Plan setting out their vision and plan for infrastructure investment. The next iteration of the plan will be published later this year.

Taxation: Amusement Arcades

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association to discuss (a) taxation and (b) the future of the amusements industry.

Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

VAT: Construction

Peter Aldous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of a reduction in VAT on building repair and maintenance work on (a) economic growth, (b) levels of employment and (c) small and medium-sized enterprises.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 713W, and on 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1201W, to the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson).

VAT: Hotels

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has received on reducing the rate of VAT for hotels in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

David Gauke: holding answer 31 October 2011
	I am aware of a number of trade campaigns to reduce the rate of VAT on the tourism and hospitality sectors, including the hotel sector. Generally, these advocate an immediate permanent cut in VAT because other EU member states have reduced rates of VAT for hospitality, and on the basis of some economic modelling. Therefore, they take no account of the significant benefit to the hotel industry of the holding the Olympics in London in 2012.
	Businesses in the hotel sector also benefit from measures introduced under this Government. For example, the main rate of corporation tax has been cut from 28% to 26% and the small profits rate of corporation tax has been cut from 21% to 20%.

Welfare Tax Credits: Eligibility

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his proposal that families will need to work 24 hours a week in order to claim tax credits from April 2012 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Jonathan Reynolds) on 13 October 2010, Official Report, column 481W.

Welfare Tax Credits: Eligibility

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of families affected by his proposal to increase the hours threshold for tax credit entitlement to 24 hours a week; and what the average cost per family will be;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of families affected by his proposal to increase the hours threshold for tax credit entitlement to 24 hours a week by (a) region and (b) constituency.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made.
	The increase in the hours rules for couples from 16 hours to 24 hours is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.
	Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on an individual household.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Alcoholic Drinks

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the blood alcohol limit for pilots is.

Theresa Villiers: The blood alcohol limit for pilots is set out in section 93 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

Aviation: EU Action

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what matters were discussed at the recent meeting of European Aviation Safety Agency's Advisory Group of National Authorities on 25 to 26 October 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The meeting discussed issues relating to the regulation of commercial operations, such as sightseeing flights, which take off and land at the same airport, the requirements for the approval of third country operators and the draft rules for flight time limitations. The discussions will help inform the European Aviation Safety Agency's development of the rules in these areas.

Aviation: Security

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with airport operators on the extension of the trial of the swabbing of religious and cultural headgear to all airports in the UK.

Theresa Villiers: Officials engage with airport operators on a regular basis. However, the trial of alternative screening processes for headgear is a voluntary one so the decision on whether to participate is an operational matter for individual airports. Most major UK airports have decided to participate.

Aviation: USA

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she plans to meet officials from the US (a) Federal Aviation Administration and (b) Department of Transportation.

Theresa Villiers: I have no plans to meet with officials from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the Department of Transportation. However Department officials have regular contact with officials from these bodies.

Buses: Inspections

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to review regulations in respect of safety inspections under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985.

Norman Baker: There are no plans at this time to review regulations in respect of safety inspections under section 19 of the Transport Act 1985.

Cycling: Safety

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the use of trixi safety mirrors on the number of road accidents involving cyclists in London;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the cost effectiveness of the use of trixi safety mirrors in (a) reducing accidents involving cyclists and (b) encouraging cycling.

Norman Baker: The Department has provided Transport for London (TfL) with a signs authorisation for the use of cycle safety mirrors (known as "trixi" mirrors) across the Mayor of London's Cycle Superhighway network. The Department has made no assessment of the cost effectiveness of these mirrors in reducing accidents involving cyclists and encouraging cycling in London or elsewhere, although it is aware that TfL is undertaking its own monitoring and will be interested in the outcome of that.

Electric Vehicles: Bedfordshire

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where vehicle charging points will be located in central Bedfordshire; and when they will be installed.

Norman Baker: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Plugged-In-Places project in the east of England is working with Central Bedfordshire council to initially install eight publicly-accessible charge points in central Bedfordshire. Site selection is ongoing, with charge points likely to be installed in car parks, among other places.
	The project aims to install charge points across the wider east of England and is continuing to work with Central Bedfordshire council and other organisations to identify other potential charge point locations to expand the network further.
	A number of private sector initiatives are now also installing recharging points in the UK, e.g. under Charge Master's POLAR scheme and Ecotricity's Electric Highway scheme, boosting growth in the national network further. These may also include sites in central Bedfordshire if suitable locations are identified by the private sector promoters.

Invalid Vehicles: Accidents

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what analysis her Department has made of the number of accidents caused by mobility scooters in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: Although my Department has no central database which records the number of mobility scooters involved in accidents, we are aware of reports of specific incidents. Road casualty statistics do not currently include mobility scooters as a separate vehicle category. However, I am pleased to note that from 2013, the police will be able to record whether a mobility vehicle has been involved in an accident on the public highway.

Metals: Theft

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of replacing cable stolen from each rail franchise in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: holding answer 7 November 2011
	Any cable that is stolen from the railway is stolen from Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the infrastructure, and not the individual rail franchisee.
	Network Rail estimates that the cost of replacing stolen cable including replacement cable and labour costs but not the cost of compensation to train operators affected by the disruption, in 2008-09 was £4.4 million; in 2009-10 was £3 million; and in 2010-11 £4.3 million.

Ports: Liverpool

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports she has received on statements made by the leader of Liverpool city council prior to the announcement of the outcome of the public consultation on changing the status of the cruise liner terminal in Liverpool stating that (a) a settlement had been determined, (b) the principle of Liverpool having a turnaround facility had been conceded and (c) suggesting legal action against the Government; when she expects to publish the result of the consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: holding a nswer  7 November 2011
	I am aware of such statements having been reported. The outcome of the consultation was not pre-determined. The responses are currently under consideration and our conclusions will be announced shortly.

Railways

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her assessment is of progress in implementing the Government's plans to upgrade Britain's rail network; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: I am pleased with the progress Network Rail is making in the delivery of the programme of works currently funded for Control Period 4.
	Projects are being delivered on time and on budget with some ahead of schedule and at lower costs. These projects are starting to benefit both freight and passenger customers alike.

Railways: Fares

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect on female part-time workers of future increases in rail fares.

Theresa Villiers: The Department gave due regard to the equalities impact of the comprehensive spending review decision on rail fares. This was in accordance with the statutory equality duties in place at the time.
	As part of this we considered that if fares increases disproportionately affected non-season (peak) tickets, then women could be disproportionately affected (as they are more likely to work part time than men). However, in practice, we expect that percentage price changes for non-season tickets will be broadly the same as for season tickets. Therefore in proportionate terms, part time workers are likely to be affected in a similar way to full time workers.

Railways: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the level of rail franchise revenues in each of the next 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Department's internal forecast of revenue in respect of future and existing contracts are commercially sensitive. As such they cannot be published.

Railways: Freight

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the annual number of rail freight tonne kilometres for each of the next 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Department uses the agreed rail freight forecasts produced by the rail freight industry working with the Rail Freight Group. A revised rail freight forecast was published in October 2011 covering tonne kilometres to 2019 and 2030. These can be found at:
	http://www.rfg.org.uk/userfiles/file/Rail%20Freight%20 Demand%20Forecasts%20to%202030_ver2.pdf

Railways: Freight

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her estimate was at the time of the comprehensive spending review of the amount of money paid by train operating companies to the Government in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and what her latest estimate is.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 7 November 2011
	Forecast expenditure and income from rail franchise contracts formed part of the overall comprehensive spending review settlement for the Department that was published in 2010.
	The settlement included an allowance for franchises that had already been contracted along with forecasts for contracts that have yet to be signed.
	The Department's forecasts in respect of future contracts along with our estimate of some of the variables within existing contracts (such as revenue share and support figures) are commercially sensitive. As such they cannot be published.
	However, contracted subsidy and premium payments in respect of all train operating companies are published on the Department's website as and when contracts are signed. The contractual terms that are published include figures for the base contract payments or premiums along with details of the revenue share and support arrangements that would vary those base payments.
	Actual spending on rail is published in the Department's annual report and accounts. A breakdown of subsidy and premiums paid or received in any given year in respect of each franchised train operator is also published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation in National Rail Trends which is available on their website.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether Network Rail is required to notify her Department prior to the commencement of engineering works;
	(2)  whether she has issued guidance to Network Rail on maintaining adequate transport links for rail commuters normally affected by engineering works;
	(3)  if she will meet (a) Network Rail, (b) East Coast Trains and (c) other transport stakeholders in Lincoln to discuss Network Rail's engineering works to the track near Grantham on the East Coast Mainline;
	(4)  if she will assess the level of disruption to rail transport links to Lincoln arising from Network Rail's engineering works to the track near Grantham on the East Coast Mainline.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The scope and timing of engineering works are operational matters for Network Rail under the industry's national possessions planning regime which is overseen by the independent Office of Rail Regulation.

Rescue Services

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to improve the ability of maritime rescue services to deal with the increasing size of ships operating in UK waters.

Michael Penning: The standard for a nation's maritime rescue services are informed, and to some extent prescribed, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.
	The SOLAS convention is progressively amended and adapted to take account of changes to vessel characteristics, including aspects related to increasing vessel size.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) uses an automatic identification system to monitor maritime traffic as part of maintaining an overall picture of vessel traffic and search and rescue response capabilities. This enables the MCA to identify vessels that might be ‘at risk’ and encourage preventative action before problems arise.

Road Signs and Markings

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests for special road traffic sign authorisations her Department has received in each of the last 10 years; and what the annual cost has been of processing these requests.

Norman Baker: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The numbers of requests for authorisations and authorisations issued for the years 2001-2011 are shown in the following table. We do not hold figures for numbers of requests for authorisations for years before 2007.
	
		
			 Calendar year Request for authorisations Authorisations issued 
			 2001 — 455 
			 2002 — 433 
			 2003 — 197 
			 2004 — 423 
			 2005 — 303 
			 2006 — 261 
			 2007 560 539 
			 2008 631 601 
			 2009 556 532 
			 2010 724 672 
			 2011 705 606 
		
	
	The recent policy document ‘Signing the Way’ will, as it is implemented, reduce the number of special authorisations which will need to be submitted to the Department.
	Details of the costs of authorisations could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Shipping: Registration

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of ships on the UK Ships Register; and what steps her Department plans to take to achieve the Marine and Coastguard Agency target of achieving an average age for ships on the register of 19 years by March 2015.

Michael Penning: The average age of ships on the UK Ship Register is 20 years. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's aim of achieving an average age for ships on the register of 19 years is based on encouraging the first registration of new ships and applying rigour when considering applications for the registration of older ships.

Shipping: Registration

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress her Department has made on amending legislation to give the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) more powers to refuse to accept ships on to the UK register which the MCA defines as not being in the UK's interests.

Michael Penning: The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993, gives the UK and other members of the Red Ensign Group, powers to refuse the registration of ships if they are non-compliant with safety requirements. In line with other flag states, it is our intention to review and simplify these regulations to increase the powers of refusal.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be taking this matter forward substantively in 2012 with a view to completing the work in 2013, subject to other regulatory priorities and the outcome of the wider Red Tape Challenge initiative.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Convictions: Industrial Health and Safety

Katy Clark: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to improve the rate of conviction of those involved in failure to comply with health and safety requirements at work.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	HSE applies its Enforcement Policy Statement, Enforcement Management Model and the Code for Crown Prosecutors when taking decisions on when to bring a prosecution. This resulted in a conviction rate of 94% in 2010-11. This is a good record, and in order to maintain the quality of enforcement decisions, HSE conducts a rolling programme of regulatory decision making peer reviews. Whether or not a person or company is successfully convicted is a matter for the court having heard the evidence presented.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Law Officers' Departments have received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued;
	(2)  in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by the Law Officers' Departments under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010;
	(3)  which Minister in the Law Officers' Departments is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Edward Garnier: Tables containing the latest available Freedom of Information data for the Law Officers' Departments have been placed in the Library of the House.
	Freedom of Information cases received by the AGO are generally dealt with by departmental officials, but either one of the two Law Officers can be consulted in those cases where it is necessary to determine whether information should be withheld under the section 36 exemption (Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs).
	The other Law Officers' Departments are public authorities in their own right under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and are responsible for responding to requests for information themselves.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Olympic Games 2012: Newspaper Press

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had any discussions with the British Olympic Association on increasing accreditation for local newspapers wishing to report on the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: I am in touch with Lord Moynihan, Chairman of the BOA, to see if further accreditations can be made available. A copy of the most recent letter I have received from Lord Moynihan on this matter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Television: Licensing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many free television licences were issued in (a) Coventry South constituency and (b) the area for which Coventry city council is responsible in each of the last five years.

Edward Vaizey: The administration and enforcement of the television licensing system is the responsibility of the BBC which operates independently of the Government.
	The BBC does not record the numbers of free TV licences issued on a constituency or regional basis.
	The BBC has provided the number of free TV licences issued to persons aged 75 or over throughout the UK, since the concession was introduced on 1 November 2000, as shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of free TV licences issued to persons in the UK aged 75 or over 
			 2000-01 3,002,549 
			 2001-02 3,381,000 
			 2002-03 3,395,772 
			 2003-04 3,490,877 
			 2004-05 3,548,595 
			 2005-06 3,604,026 
			 2006-07 3,665,879 
		
	
	
		
			 2007-08 3,709,445 
			 2008-09 3,776,118 
			 2009-10 3,853,911 
			 2010-11 3,929,753 
			 Total 39,357,925

SCOTLAND

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Mr Jon Moulton and (vi) Mr Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

David Mundell: There have been no such meetings.

Charities

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not awarded any grants to charitable organisations in any of the last five years.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued;
	(2)  in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Hugo Swire: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 2010 
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 
			 Total number 13 26 26 15 9 20 21 13 20 12 26 12 
			 Full release 6 9 7 5 5 11 13 6 11 4 10 1 
			 Part release 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 3 3 
		
	
	
		
			 No information released 3 1 6 3 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 
			 Withheld under s.43 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Info not held 1 4 11 5 2 5 3 3 3 3 9 7 
			 Cost limit engaged 3 1 2 2 0 0 4 1 2 0 2 0 
			 Vexatious/repeated 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Full response in 20 days 13 21 21 14 8 17 21 12 18 10 23 11 
			 PIT extended in 20 days 0 4 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 2 1 
			 Resolved after 40 days 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Still ongoing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 
			  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 
			 Total number 11 11 16 16 14 31 
			 Full release 1 3 2 6 10 12 
			 Part release 1 3 1 4 0 3 
			 No information released 1 1 1 0 0 3 
			 Withheld under s.43 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Info not held 8 3 9 5 4 11 
			 Cost limit engaged 0 1 3 1 0 1 
			 Vexatious/repeated 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Full response in 20 days 11 10 15 14 14 30 
			 PIT extended in 20 days 0 0 1 1 0 1 
			 Resolved after 40 days 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Still ongoing 0 0 0 0 0 1 
		
	
	The Department provides statistical data to the Ministry of Justice regarding its compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Department's performance with regard to the 20 working day deadline for responding to requests submitted under this Act. The MOJ publishes these statistics on a quarterly and annual basis and these can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation.htm
	The Ministry of Justice is currently compiling statistical returns from all Whitehall Departments for requests received during the third quarter of 2011. These are scheduled to be published on the MOJ website on 15 December 2011. The figures for the fourth quarter of 2011 will be published on 26 April 2012 along with the 2011 annual return.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information made under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Hugo Swire: Officials within the Northern Ireland Office are responsible for reviewing any information held by the Department that is in scope of a request under the Freedom of Information Act and to identify any information that might engage any of the exemption provisions provided under this Act.
	However, the exemption provisions of section 36 of the Act (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a Qualified Person (QP) that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government, the Qualified Person must be a Minister or, if held by a non-ministerial department, the persons in charge of that department (for example, the chief executive).
	If the release of any information under this Act might result in the prejudicial effects outlined by this section of the Act, this information is presented to either the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), or me to decide whether or not this exemption is engaged, depending on the subject matter of the information in question. This information is accompanied by supporting background information that outlines the potential impact of the release of that information and arguments supporting both the release of the information and those that favour it being withheld.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: The following figures relate to staff employed by my Department, in its present form which came into being on 12 April 2010:
	(a) four;
	(b) four;
	(c) one; and
	(d) none.
	All figures relate to the 2010-11 financial year.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the average increase was in each such year.

Owen Paterson: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available before 12 April 2010 following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions.
	In line with the arrangements that apply across all Whitehall Departments, during the 2011-12 financial year 11 members of staff, earning a full-time equivalent salary of up to £21,000 received a pay increase of one incremental step on their pay scale or £250 if they were at their maximum and still earning below £21,000. The average increase was £397. There were also 62 members of staff who assimilated on to the Ministry of Justice pay scales in 2010-11 and three members of staff who assimilated on to the MOJ pay scales in 2011-12. This change forms part of the framework of the new arrangements that were put in place on 12 April 2010, as a consequence of the completion of devolution. The average increase in 2010-11 was £1,208 and £1,509 in 2011-12.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department received a bonus in each year since 2007.

Hugo Swire: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available before 12 April 2010 following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions.
	During 2010-11, the Northern Ireland Office paid special bonuses to 39 members of staff in recognition of one-off exceptional pieces of work and/or for exceptional and sustained effort and results over a period of six months or more. The highest bonus paid to any member of staff was £750 and the average was £348.

Departmental Regulation

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date.

Owen Paterson: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparative figures are not available prior to this date.
	Since 12 April 2010 my Department has made 11 statutory instruments.
	My Department issued no other secondary legislation (e. g. statutory rules) in the above period. The information relating to ministerial orders could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) his Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review.

Owen Paterson: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparable figures are, therefore, not available for the Department as it is now configured prior to April 2010.
	The Department receives support from the Home Office Legal Adviser's Branch (HOLAB) and from the Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland. It also receives occasional advice from other Government bodies, such as the Treasury Solicitor's Office (TSO).
	During the financial year 2010-11 the Department spent £773,000 on legal costs arising from work undertaken by HOLAB and TSO. The costs for the first six months of the financial year 2011-12 are approximately £343,000. The costs of legal work undertaken by the Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland for 2010-11 was £147,000, and for 2011-12 was £51,000.
	The Northern Ireland Office does not commission external legal advice itself, but in acting on behalf of the Department, these bodies will from time to time instruct counsel.
	Since April 2010, the Department has been taken to court 11 times (including industrial tribunals and judicial reviews). The NIO were dismissed from three of these and the remaining cases are ongoing.

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) external legal advice commissioned by his Department in the first six months of 2011.

Owen Paterson: The Department receives legal support from a range of Government bodies, including the Treasury Solicitor's Office (TSOL), the Home Office Legal Advisor's Branch (HOLAB), the Departmental Solicitor's Office and the Crown Solicitor's Office.
	s The Northern Ireland Office does not commission external legal advice itself, but in acting on behalf of the Department, these bodies may from time to time instruct counsel.
	The external costs for support from HOLAB during the first six months of the 2011-12 financial year are approximately £369,000. The costs for advice from TSOL for the first six months of the 2011-12 financial year were £32,568.
	The costs of legal advice arising from work undertaken by the Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland in the financial year 2010-11 were £3,000 and in the first six months of 2011-12 were £2,000.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given of the length of the attendance allowance claim form.

Chris Grayling: It is essential that all the right information is gathered at the start of a claim so the correct amount of benefit can be decided and paid with as little delay as possible. Claiming attendance allowance inevitably involves the customer or their representative answering detailed and sensitive questions about their personal circumstances, this is unavoidable if help is to go to people who meet the entitlement conditions set by Parliament.

Carers: Grandparents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial support is available from his Department for grandparents who are the primary carers of their grandchildren; whether any further support is planned during the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: Grandparents who care for their grandchildren or other members of their family aged 12 or younger for 20 hours or more a week, have been able to gain national insurance credits towards the basic state pension from April 2011.
	Income support and jobseeker's allowance (income-based) can be claimed by any person, including grandparents, who has taken on responsibility for a child which is not their own. The exact amounts that they receive will depend upon the individual circumstances of each case. A single foster carer may also be entitled to income support for his or her own needs.
	This general policy will be taken forward in universal credit. Working kinship carers will be able to claim the child care element in universal credit on the same basis as any other parent.
	Local authority payments can also be made in particular circumstances.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were employed by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	As at June 2011, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement commission employed 7,900 full time equivalent staff. This information is available on page 5 of the June 2011 Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS), which is available at the following link:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/qss/QSS_June_2011.pdf
	and in the. House of Commons library.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the total monetary value of outstanding child maintenance payments (a) due to resident parents and (b) owed by non-resident parents living in the London borough of Bexley.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the total monetary value of outstanding child maintenance payments (a) due to resident parents and (b) owed by non-resident parents living in the London Borough of Bexley.
	As at June 2011, £13,677,000 in arrears was owed on cases where the parent with care is resident in Bexley. £7,742,000 of this is owed specifically to the parent with care with the remainder owed to the Secretary of State. Non-resident parents living in Bexley owed £13,555,000 in child maintenance arrears which comprises arrears owed both to the Secretary of State and parents with care. These outstanding maintenance arrears have accumulated since the Child Support Agency was established in 1993.
	Further information by Local Authority is available on the internet at the following link:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/xls/regional0611.xls
	and in the House of Commons library.
	These figures are arrears for cases administered on the Child Support Agency's computer systems, and are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds. It is not possible to break down arrears by Local Authority for cases managed off the Agency's computer system so these figures will not add up to the total reported in the Quarterly Summary of Statistics published in June 2011.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the methods used to calculate child maintenance payments to be paid by non-resident parents.

Maria Miller: I have received a number of representations on the methods used to calculate maintenance, and these have reflected a wide cross-section of personal circumstances. For example many non-resident parents express concern that the 2003 scheme rules take no account of the income of parents with care, while some parents with care believe that the maintenance calculation should take account of a higher proportion of a non-resident parent's income.
	There are no plans to change the scheme rules of the Child Support Agency's two current schemes, but in our Green Paper “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance” published on 13 January 2011, we confirmed plans to introduce a single new child maintenance scheme from 2012. This new scheme will make use of income data from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
	Detailed rules about the methods to calculate child maintenance in the new scheme will be contained in regulations which will be subject to public consultation before the new scheme goes live. The start of the consultation process will be publicly-announced in due course.
	I and my officials have met, and will continue to meet, a number of organisations representing separated parents to discuss the way in which the new scheme will operate.

Construction: Jarrow

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of businesses in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of enterprises in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the United Kingdom between 2000, the earliest year for which data are available, and 2011 for the construction sector.
	
		
			 Count of VAT and/or PAYE registered enterprises in the construction sector, 2000-11 
			 Number 
			  Jarrow South Tyneside North-east UK 
			 2000 — 178 4,655 188,495 
			 2001 — 173 4,695 192,526 
			 2002 — 179 4,741 193,880 
			 2003 98 186 4,751 195,184 
			 2004 98 202 5,085 203,333 
			 2005 111 219 5,545 214,402 
			 2006 123 239 5,965 222,526 
			 2007 142 258 5,818 232,190 
			 2008 161 293 6,890 249,934 
			 2009 187 307 7,794 289,085 
			 2010 182 295 7,328 274,413 
			 2011 170 284 6,831 262,465

Departmental Assets

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assets with a value of £250,000 or more his Department has bought since May 2010; for what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The DWP has acquired 36 assets costing more than £250,000 between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2011 totalling approximately £202.2 million.
	The assets all relate to software, IT development and software licences.
	The largest purchase was the implementation of the first phase of the central payment system (CPS) at £73.8 million, which has modernised benefit payments.
	A further £44 million has been incurred for software development on the reassessment of incapacity benefit customers.
	In addition, £48 million incurred on seven assets within a project to develop a single customer view which underpins the DWP Enquiry Service.
	The remaining 27 assets have the following categorisation: 12 relate to software licences, two relate to IT and 13 to software development.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

Chris Grayling: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual and quarterly reports containing statistical information on Freedom of Information requests received by monitored bodies, including central Government Departments.
	The first two quarterly reports for 2011 can be found at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	Annual and quarterly reports for 2010 and the annual statistics from 2005 can also be found at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/mojstats/2010%20Annual%20and%20Q4%20FOI%20bulletin%20vfinal.pdf
	These reports include statistics on the number of non-routine requests received by this Department and the initial outcomes of these requests. It also contains the number of complaints to the Information Commissioner of which we have been notified, and the outcomes of these complaints.
	In addition, copies of each report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Chris Grayling: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual and quarterly reports containing statistical information on Freedom of Information requests received by monitored bodies, including central Government Departments.
	The first two quarterly reports for 2011 can be found at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	Annual and quarterly reports for 2010 and the annual statistics from 2005 can be found at the following address:.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/mojstats/2010%20Annual%20and%20Q4% 20FOI%20bulletin%20vfinal.pdf
	These reports include statistics on the number of non-routine requests received by DWP and the initial outcomes of these requests. It also contains the number of exemptions used for commercially sensitive information, information not held, too costly to provide and vexatious or repeated requests.
	In addition, copies of each report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The quarter three statistics for 2011 are currently being collected and will be published in due course.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information made under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Chris Grayling: Departmental officials normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
	However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person that the exemption is engaged. In relation to information held by a Government Department like DWP the qualified person must be a Minister.
	In such instances officials normally seek the opinion of the Minister responsible for the relevant subject matter.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) external legal advice commissioned by his Department in the first six months of 2011.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	(a) The cost of the internal legal services section for the period for the first six months of the financial year is £4.9 million. These are made up of salary costs for lawyers and support staff, plus other costs e.g. training and travel, but do not include departmental overheads e.g. accommodation and IT.
	(b) DWP does not hold information in the format requested in relation to expenditure on external legal advice commissioned across the whole of DWP. We could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
	We are able to advise that expenditure on external legal services, commissioned by DWP's internal legal services section for the same period was £2.0 million(1).
	External legal advice is commissioned for a variety of reasons. These include the need for specialist advice in areas where relevant expertise does not exist within internal legal services, and particularly complex or important matters where counsel's view may be sought to complement internally produced legal advice.
	(1) Expenditure on external legal services comprises a range of payments, including payments to meet other sides' costs, where these are required to be paid as a result of litigation; payments made to counsel from the Attorney-General's approved list for prosecutions, litigation or advisory services; and payments to local agent solicitors for prosecutions, some civil litigation and other occasional work. It does not however include information about legal services provided to DWP pursuant to outsourced arrangements. A more detailed breakdown of this expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) his Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review.

Chris Grayling: DWP does not hold information in the format requested in relation to all of DWP's expenditure on external legal advice. We could provide the information only at disproportionate cost. The information we do readily hold on expenditure on external legal services includes information about expenditure on instructing counsel.
	DWP's expenditure on external legal services(1), commissioned by its legal department, in the financial years 2005-06 to September 2011 is set out in the following table.
	(1) Expenditure on external legal services comprises a range of payments, including payments to meet other sides' costs, where these are required to be paid as a result of litigation; payments made to counsel from the Attorney-General's approved list for prosecutions, litigation or advisory services; and payments to local agent solicitors for prosecutions, some civil litigation and other occasional work. It does not however include information about legal services provided to DWP pursuant to outsourced arrangements. A more detailed breakdown of DWP's expenditure on external legal services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure on external legal services
	
		
			 Expenditure 
			 Financial year Total spend (£ million) 
			 2005-06 5.1 
			 2006-07 5.6 
			 2007-08 5.3 
			 2008-09 4.5 
			 2009-10 4.6 
			 2010-11 4.1 
			 2011-12(1) 2.0 
			 (1 )April to September 2011. 
		
	
	The number of files that the litigation division of DWP opened relating to judicial review and other cases is detailed in the following table, for each year from 2008 to the end of June 2011. Not all of these cases will have resulted in legal proceedings being issued as they may have been resolved before that stage. A more detailed breakdown of whether a case resulted in legal proceedings and the outcome of any such cases could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Number 
			  Judicial review Other  (1) 
			 2008 75 332 
			 2009 145 446 
			 2010 204 549 
			 2011 (first 6 months) 75 327 
			 (1) Some cases which originated as judicial review cases but have subsequently been appealed to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) may have been included as “Other” cases. It is also possible that some cases involving human rights claims may have been included as “Other” cases even though they were judicial review cases. In each case this is because it would result in disproportionate cost to determine whether the cases were or were not JR cases.

Departmental NDPBs

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The figures of civil servants employed directly and otherwise within non-departmental public bodies for which this Department is responsible are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Dates of information Total number of civil servants (in full-time equivalent) 
			 Number of civil servants employed directly by NDPBs 31 March 2000 3,925.00 
			  31 March 2005 3,777.00 
			  31 March 2007 3,562.00 
			  31 March 2010 12,041.81 
			  30 September 2011 11,206.07 
			    
			 Number of civil servants otherwise employed by NDPBs, e.g. secondment, loan 31 March 2000 16.00 
			  31 March 2005 30.00 
			  31 March 2007 49.20 
			  31 March 2010 101.25 
			  30 September 2011 60.75

Departmental Publications

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of changing from use of the term customer to the term client in guidance and documentation issued by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Changing the term customer to claimant was done at no additional cost. Any changes to documents or guidance were implemented when the guidance was due to be updated.

Disability Allowance

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the cost was to the public purse of severe disablement allowance payments due to a main disabling condition of chronic pain in each local authority area in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people received severe disablement allowance due to a main disabling condition of chronic pain in each local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The information as requested is not available.
	The term chronic pain is a general one that refers to persistent pain lasting anywhere from three to six months, therefore chronic pain can be a result of a large number of diagnoses that cause pain. The medical condition of severe disablement allowance claimants is recorded using a grouped version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10), and the only codes that specifically indicate chronic pain are those for ‘Chronic intractable pain’ and ‘Other chronic pain’, both of which come under the general heading of ‘Pain not elsewhere classified’.
	Figures for ‘Pain not elsewhere classified’ are provided in the following table; however, this is unlikely to be an accurate reflection of those individuals with chronic pain. The cost to the public purse cannot be calculated because the numbers are too small to quote for severe disablement allowance with this medical code by local authority.
	The following table shows the number of severe disablement allowance claimants in Great Britain and abroad, May 2010 to February 2011
	
		
			  All diagnoses Pain not elsewhere classified 
			 May 2010 233,710 1,060 
			 August 10 231,550 1,050 
			 November 2010 229,000 1,030 
			 February 2011 226,300 1,020 
			 Notes: 1. Data are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. To qualify for incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work called a personal capability assessment. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 
		
	
	Under the employment support allowance regime, new claimants have to undergo the work capability assessment. From April 2011 incapacity benefit recipients will begin also to undertake this assessment. The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefit or employment support allowance. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming incapacity benefit on the basis of alcoholism would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities related to physical and mental function, assessed by the personal/work capability assessment.

Driving: Disabled

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per individual is of providing specially adapted motor vehicles for disabled drivers.

Maria Miller: The Department works closely with Motability but it is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability Scheme. Support for vehicle adaptations is provided through Motability's own charitable fund or the Specialised Vehicles Fund, which Motability administers on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The average contribution to the cost of adapted vehicles from the Specialised Vehicle Fund in 2010-11 is contained in the following table. This contribution is in addition to the disabled person's higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance being committed to a five year lease through the Motability Scheme.
	
		
			 Average Specialised Vehicles Fund contribution in 2010-11 
			 Adaptation Number of vehicles Average Specialised Vehicle Fund contribution (£) 
			 Passenger Wheelchair Adapted Vehicle 1,793 3,750 
			 Drive from Wheelchair Adapted vehicle 373 24,000 
			 Other adapted 233 7,000 
			 Note: The Specialised Vehicles Fund primarily provides financial assistance to those severely disabled scheme customers who require complex vehicle adaptations that allow them to enter a car as a passenger while remaining seated in their wheelchair or enables them to drive their car while seated in their wheelchair.

Employment and Support Allowance

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2011, Official Report, columns 426-7W, on the employment and support allowance, how much arising from personal and occupational pensions was disregarded for the purpose of calculating contributory employment support allowance entitlement in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The disregard for occupational and personal pension income was introduced in 2001 for incapacity benefit claims. The disregard is £85.00 per week plus half any excess. The same disregard was introduced into contributory employment and support allowance in October 2008 when it replaced incapacity benefit. The value of the disregard remains unchanged since its inception.

Employment Schemes

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unemployed people have become self-employed through the use of enterprise clubs since April 2011.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not publish statistics on the numbers of people who have become self-employed through the use of enterprise clubs. Enterprise clubs are a locally driven initiative and their support can be accessed without referral from Jobcentre Plus.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on the Supporting Youth Employment scheme to date;
	(2)  how many people have secured employment under the Supporting Youth Employment scheme.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not recognise the Supporting Youth Employment scheme, therefore the information requested is not available.

Employment: Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered increasing the capacity of the directgov online jobs search to handle more users.

Chris Grayling: The Directgov job search has been built as a scalable solution. Usage is constantly monitored and any increased capacity requirements will be facilitated by increasing the amount of hardware required in support of the service.

Employment: Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons users of the directgov online jobs search cannot search beyond a 15 mile radius of the user under the category all jobs; and if he will consider expanding the job search radius.

Chris Grayling: The Directgov vacancy database, supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions, holds approximately 115,000 vacancies at any one time with vacancy data updated daily. Such a significant amount of data processing requires a number of search constraints in order to protect service integrity.
	Searches for 'all jobs' are very popular and will usually return the current maximum of 250 vacancies that the service can display; in addition such search requests have been limited to a 15 mile search radius.
	In response to customer feedback, a number of service improvements are currently being considered, including the maximum number of vacancies displayed and an increase to the radius search area.

Employment: Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unique users visited the Directgov online jobs search page in each of the last 36 months for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. The system measures individual search sessions, so a unique user may search 10 times a day—this will be recorded as 10 sessions. The following tables offers user session information that is available:
	
		
			 November 2008 to October 2009 
			 Month User sessions 
			 November 439,398 
			 December 350,075 
			 January 672,135 
			 February 2,972,195 
			 March 3,650,120 
			 April 3,439,207 
			 May 3,744,478 
			 June 4,416,138 
			 July 4,840,956 
			 August 4,624,624 
			 September 3,964,570 
		
	
	
		
			 October 4,705,881 
			 Total 37,819,777 
		
	
	
		
			 November 2009 to October 2010 
			 Month User sessions 
			 November 4,481,441 
			 December 3,616,351 
			 January 7,749,935 
			 February 7,507,888 
			 March 8,235,478 
			 April 7,290,295 
			 May 7,236,443 
			 June 7,602,041 
			 July 8,181,994 
			 August 8,023,040 
			 September 8,415,311 
			 October 8,076,240 
			 Total 86,416,457 
		
	
	
		
			 November 2010 to October 2011 
			 Month User sessions 
			 November 8,003,336 
			 December 5,585,671 
			 January 9,735,834 
			 February 9,162,881 
			 March 10,077,864 
			 April 8,025,887 
			 May 9,208,410 
			 June 8,830,365 
			 July 8,782,867 
			 August 8,370,552 
			 September 8,706,295 
			 October 8,516,291 
			 Total 103,006,253 
			 Source: Speedtrap and Webtrends Analytics tools

Employment: Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many simultaneous unique users the Directgov online jobs search system is capable of handling.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. The system capacity is not measurable in terms of numbers of simultaneous unique users.

Employment: Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unique users he expects to visit the Directgov online jobs search in the next year.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. The Directgov job search system records user sessions, rather than unique users.

Incapacity Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the number of letters sent to incapacity benefit claimants informing them that their reassessment was about to commence in each week since the beginning of February 2011.

Chris Grayling: Between 28 February 2011 and 3 April 2011 my Department issued 1,000 letters each week to incapacity benefit claimants informing them that their reassessment was about to commence. This figure increased to 7,210 a week from 4 April 2011 and since 5 May 2011 the Department has issued 11,005 letters each week. This will continue until the 27 December 2013.

Income Support

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of those in receipt of income support who have never been in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Income Support: Lone Parents

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely number of lone parents claiming income support in each of the next three years.

Chris Grayling: We estimate that the number of lone parents claiming income support in the next three years, with the current year for comparison, will be:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2011-12 602,000 
			 2012-13 514,000 
			 2013-14 460,000 
			 2014-15 440,000 
			 Note: Figures include all lone parents who claim income support including those who are claiming on grounds of incapacity for work, being a carer, or other reasons. Source: Budget 2011 forecasts 
		
	
	This reduction reflects:
	1. The lone parent obligation reducing from age of youngest child seven to age five meaning more lone parents will be seeking work and able to access sustainable employment.
	2. Reassessment of those on incapacity benefit. Income support can be paid in addition to incapacity benefit but not in addition to employment and support allowance.

Pay: Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations his Department has received on the restoration of the link between salaries and pensions.

Steve Webb: We are regularly engaged in discussion with stakeholders about the pensions system and pensions reform.
	The Government met their commitment to restore the earnings link with the basic state pension. When the earnings link was broken, the basic state pension was 26% of average earnings. By 2009 it was 16%. The restoration of the earnings link will halt this decline.
	The Government have given a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of growth in average earnings, prices or 2.5%. This will help provide a more solid financial foundation for pensioners from the state.

Personal Independence Payments

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 12-13, on personal independence payments, what criteria his Department will use to determine sufficient evidence.

Maria Miller: When providing advice for personal independence payment, trained independent assessors will consider individuals' ability to carry out a series of key everyday activities, set out in regulations. This advice will inform decisions on benefit entitlement, taken by departmental decision makers who are ultimately responsible for ensuring appropriate evidence has been obtained and taken into consideration.
	Assessors will need to ensure that they have sufficient evidence on which to base their advice. This evidence will be gathered from a range of sources, partly provided by the claimant and the remainder requested by the assessor. In most cases we envisage that this will also involve information gathered from a face-to-face consultation between the claimant and the assessor. However, such consultations may not always be necessary or appropriate—especially where there is already sufficient evidence available, such as from the claimant themselves or from individuals involved in supporting the claimant, such as their GP, specialist or social worker. Decisions on whether sufficient evidence has been gathered will be based on the circumstances of the case and guidance will be provided to support such decisions. The assessment criteria for the benefit are still being developed.

Social Security Benefits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to encourage people to take up their benefit entitlement.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 15 November 2010, Official Report column 586W.
	From October 2013, however, universal credit will provide a new single system of means-tested support for working-age people who are in or out of work. Existing means-tested benefits will no longer be needed, these include income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, working tax credit, child tax credit and housing benefit. As a result people will be better placed to find out what benefits they can get.

State Retirement Pensions: Carers

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people drawing a state pension are carers.

Steve Webb: In 2009-10 there were an estimated 1.2 million people who were in receipt of state pension and who identified themselves as informal carers.
	Notes:
	1. This estimate is derived from the Family Resources Survey which is a nationally representative sample of approximately 25,000 UK private households. Data for 2009-10, the latest year available, were collected between April 2009 and March 2010.
	2. The 2009-10 Family Resources Survey estimated that due to under-reporting the number of state pension recipients derived from the survey was 4% less than the number of actual recipients of state pension so the estimates presented should be treated with caution.
	3. The figures from the Family Resources Survey are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the Family Resources Survey to Government Office Region population by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.
	4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	5. Informal carers are individuals who provide any regular service or help to someone in or outside of their household who is sick, disabled or elderly, those who give this help as part of a formal job are excluded from this definition. The definition used is not dependent on receipt of a carer's benefit.

State Retirement Pensions: Public Expenditure

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of uprating (a) the state pension and (b) benefits at a consumer prices index level of (i) 2.5 per cent., (ii) 3 per cent., (iii) 3.1 per cent., (iv) 3.5 per cent., (v) 4 per cent., (vi) 4.5 per cent., (vii) 4.6 per cent., (viii) 4.9 per cent. and (ix) 5.1 per cent. in 2012-13; and if he will estimate the average change in the level of payments of uprating at each level on (A) women and (B) men in each income decile in receipt of such pensions and benefits.

Steve Webb: The information requested is provided in the following table for (a) the state pension and (b) benefits. The table shows the cost of increasing the benefits, by the given rate in April 2012 compared to a baseline of no uprating in April 2012. 'Other benefits' only includes those benefits uprated by CPI. It therefore excludes pension credit as the standard minimum guarantee is uprated by average earnings.
	These costs are indicative only. Actual costs will be dependent on increases in benefit rates in April 2012. Proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn.
	
		
			 Cost of up-rating for 2012-13 
			 £ billion, 2011-12 prices 
			 Rate State pension Other benefits Total 
			 2.5% 2.0 1.0 3.0 
			 3.0% 2.4 1.2 3.6 
			 3.1% 2.5 1.3 3.8 
			 3.5% 2.8 1.4 4.3 
			 4.0% 3.3 1.6 4.9 
			 4.5% 3.7 1.8 5.5 
			 4.6% 3.8 1.9 5.7 
			 4.9% 4.0 2.0 6.0 
			 5.1% 4.2 2.1 6.3 
			 Notes: 1. The costing is based on DWP budget 2011 case load forecasts. 2. 'State pension' includes basic state pension up-rated with the triple lock policy, additional pension and graduated retirement pension. 3. 'Other benefits' refers to working age benefits including, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit maternity allowances and statutory sick pay, and also housing benefits and disability benefits. Pension credit is excluded. 4. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	We are unable to estimate the average change in the level of payments of up-rating at each level on (A) women and (B) men in each income decile in receipt of such pensions and benefits. This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made on the potential effect of child and working age poverty of his proposal to increase the hours threshold for tax credit entitlement to 24 hours per week.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have published their analysis of the cumulative impacts of their policies where they can robustly model them. The most recent analysis can be found in the annex to Budget 2011:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf

Universal Credit

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions further to his Department's impact assessment on universal credit, how many people were simultaneously working more than 30 hours per week, receiving working tax credit and not in receipt of housing benefit (a) in each of the last two years and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: According to the Family Resources Survey for both 2008-09 and 2009-10 there were estimated to be 1 million benefit units with an adult working more than 30 hours a week, where the benefit unit was receiving working tax credit and not receiving housing benefit. 2009-10 is the latest year for which data is available.
	Notes:
	1. The Family Resources Survey (FRS) is a nationally representative sample of approximately 25,000 UK private households. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error. The FRS is known to under-record benefit receipt so the estimates presented should be treated with caution.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	3. A benefit unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple and dependent children.
	4. Housing benefit receipt is recorded at a benefit unit level on the FRS. This analysis is therefore only possible at a benefit unit level.

Universal Credit

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions further to his Department's impact assessment on universal credit, how many people will be affected by the removal of the rule that allows an individual to claim simultaneously both a disability and a carer premium.

Chris Grayling: The Department is removing the current overlapping provision that allows people to receive both a disability addition and a carer element. However, as now, couples could get a disability addition for one member and the carer element for the other partner.
	Once universal credit is fully implemented we estimate that around 100,000 people will be affected by the removal of the rule that allows an individual to receive both additions.
	There will be a package of transitional protection for existing claimants to ensure no cash losers as a result of the move to universal credit, where circumstances remain unchanged.

Universal Credit

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions further to his Department's impact assessment on universal credit, how many couples at the latest date for which figures are available comprised one member of working-age and one member eligible for pension credit.

Steve Webb: The information available is set out in the table. This provides the number of couples in receipt of income replacement benefits administered by the Department of Work and Pensions.
	
		
			 Number of couples receiving income replacement benefits at February 2011 with one member of working age and one eligible for pension credit 
			 Benefit type Claimant over 60 partner under 60 Claimant under 60 partner over 60 
			 Pension Credit 93,200 0 
			 Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 1,100 1,700 
			 Income Support 2,600 1,900 
			 Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The figures assume that pension credit is available when one partner reaches age 60. However, the qualifying age for pension credit is increasing in line with the increase in women's state pension age. At February 2011 the qualifying age for pension credit was between 60 and four months and 60 and five months. Current data do not allow analysis that takes account of the increase in qualifying age. 3. Jobseeker's allowance is payable until state pension age. Income support is payable until a person reaches the pension credit qualifying age, so these data include those who are over 60 who have not yet reached the pension credit qualifying age. 4. Data are not available for partners of employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit claimants. 5. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources. The proportions from the 5% sample data have been used and applied to the overall 100% total for the benefit to determine the total number of couples. 6. Figures are not available for couples who may be entitled to this support, but do not claim it. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample

Winter Fuel Payments

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged between (a) 60 and 65, (b) 65 and 70 and (c) 70 and 80 years in (i) England, (ii) Dudley borough and (iii) Dudley North constituency who will receive the winter fuel payment in each of the next three years.

Steve Webb: Projections for the numbers of people receiving winter fuel payments are not produced below the Great Britain level. However, if the England, Dudley metropolitan borough and the Dudley North constituency share of cases in 2010-11 were maintained in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 the number of people projected to receive winter fuel payments would be as given in the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in England 
			 Thousand 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Below 65 2,486 2,109 1,475 
			 65 to 69 2,463 2,635 2,792 
			 70 to79 3,545 3,593 3,774 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in Dudley metropolitan borough 
			 Rounded to the nearest 100 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Below 65 15,400 13,100 11,000 
			 65 to 69 16,900 18,000 18,800 
			 70 to79 24,100 24,400 25,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in Dudley North constituency 
			 Rounded to the nearest 100 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Below 65 3,400 2,900 2,400 
			 65 to 69 4,000 4,200 4,400 
			 70 to79 6,400 6,500 6,700 
			 Source: Budget 2011 forecasts and DWP statistical data

Winter Fuel Payments

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations his Department has received on increasing the age range within which people are eligible for winter fuel payments.

Steve Webb: We have received a small number of representations about extending winter fuel payments to specific groups of people below women's state pension age.

Work Programme

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has instructed Work programme providers not to publish performance information.

Chris Grayling: Work programme contracts do not allow providers to publish performance information without the Department's express permission. This is in line with UK Statistics Authority guidelines that do not allow the release of information prior to the publication of official statistics. DWP intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and job outcomes from autumn 2012.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data he plans to publish on the number of (a) referrals to and (b) job outcomes for Tier 1 and Tier 2 subcontractors under the Work Programme (i) in total, (ii) in each contract package area and (iii) of each subcontractor; and when he plans to publish it.

Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work Programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.

Work Programme

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which private sector organisations have signed a contract with his Department for delivery of the Work Programme.

Chris Grayling: DWP has signed Work programme contracts with fifteen private organisations, namely;
	A4e
	Avanta Enterprise Ltd (TNG)
	Business Employment Services Training Ltd (BEST)
	ESG
	EOS
	G4S
	Ingeus UK Ltd
	JHP Group Ltd
	Maximus Employment UK Ltd
	Pertemps
	Prospects Services Ltd.
	Reed in Partnership
	Seetec
	Serco Ltd
	Working Links

Work Programme

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which voluntary and third sector organisations signed Work Programme contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: DWP has signed Work programme contracts with two voluntary and community organisations, Rehab Jobfit and Careers Development Group.

Work Programme

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) each ethnic group and (b) of each client type have been referred to the Work programme's prime contractors in each contract area in the last 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.

Work Programme

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid in attachment fees in each Work programme contract area in the last 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The Work programme was launched on June 2011. There is a budget of £789 million allocated for this financial year to cover the costs of our Labour Market Support Employment programmes including attachment fees associated with the Work programme.

Work Programme

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely number of clients in each Work Programme prime contracting area in the next (a) six and (b) 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows the indicative volumes for claimant starts by contract package area (CPA). The estimates are for the 10 month period from when the Work Programme went live in June 2011, to March 2012.
	Volume estimates have been formulated for each year only.
	
		
			 Contract package area  Total volume of clients for 2011-12 
			 CPA 1 East of England 46,000 
			 CPA 2 East Midlands 46,000 
			 CPA 3 West London 38,000 
			 CPA 4 East London 45,000 
			 CPA 5 North East 39,000 
			 CPA 6 Merseyside Halton, Cumbria and Lancashire 45,000 
			 CPA 7 North, West and Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington 45,000 
			 CPA 8 Scotland 56,000 
			 CPA 9 Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight 29,000 
			 CPA 10 Surrey, Sussex and Kent 31,000 
			 CPA 11 Devon, Cornwell, Somerset and Dorset 20,000 
			 CPA 12 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and West of England 20,000 
			 CPA 13 Wales 35,000 
			 CPA 14 Birmingham, Solihull and the Black County 40,000 
			 CPA 15 Coventry, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and The Marches 30,000 
			 CPA 16 West Yorkshire 28,000 
			 CPA 17 South Yorkshire 19,000 
			 CPA 18 North East Yorkshire and the Humber 18,000 
			 Total(1)  628,000 
			 (1) Totals may not sum due to rounding.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Integration Strategy

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department plans to publish its integration strategy.

Andrew Stunell: The Government plan to publish a document setting out their approach to integration later this calendar year. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will make a statement to Parliament at this time.

Affordable Housing: Disability

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many people have been assisted by the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities scheme in each of the last three years; and how much funding has been allocated to the scheme in each such year;
	(2)  what assessment (a) he has made of the success of the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities (HOLD) scheme, and (b) the ability of those wishing to access the HOLD scheme to afford their share of the property;
	(3)  whether he has any plans to amend the operation or rules of the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities scheme.

Grant Shapps: The Home Ownership for people with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme aims to help eligible aspiring home owners whose housing needs cannot be met through the Government's main affordable home ownership programme. It enables purchasers to select a property on the open market suitable to their needs (for example, close to carers), and buy on shared ownership terms with a housing association.
	All applicants for our affordable home ownership products, including this scheme, must undergo a robust affordability check and demonstrate to their mortgage lender and the housing association that the costs of home ownership are sustainable for them.
	It is a demand-led scheme. My Department provides capital funding to housing associations, through the Homes and Communities Agency's affordable homes programme. We are investing almost £4.5 billion to help deliver up to 170,000 additional affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15. As part of this, housing associations may bid for funding to help with the purchase of properties on the open market for this scheme, where this has the support of the local authority. There are no plans to amend the operation or rules of the scheme.
	The following table shows the number of households assisted and amount of funding provided under this scheme in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  Households assisted Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2008-09 93 3.7 
			 2009-10 137 5.7 
			 2010-11 132 5.7 
			 Source: Homes and Communities Agency's Information Management System

Departmental Procurement

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: This information on contract awards is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	However we are able to provide a breakdown of actual expenditure with third sector organisation for the period requested which is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Third sector organisations (£) 
			 May 2010 174,314 
			 June 2010 1,054,642 
			 July 2010 272,099 
			 August 2010 65,962 
			 September 2010 62,401 
			 October 2010 1,162,744 
			 November 2010 86,278 
			 December 2010 146,376 
			 January 2011 989,366 
			 February 2011 53,288 
			 March 2011 377,055 
			 April 2011 113,706 
			 May 2011 900 
		
	
	
		
			 June 2011 3,600 
			 July 2011 5,699 
			 August 2011 0 
			 September 2011 0 
			 Total 4,568,430 
		
	
	The analysis of our supplier base which has enabled the identification of third sector organisations was undertaken by an independent company. Please note that this will include public sector bodies.

Departmental Procurement

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has contracts with organisations that specialise in (a) public relations, (b) strategic communications, (c) brand management and (d) advertising; what the name is of each such organisation; and what the net value is of any such contract.

Bob Neill: The Department is currently not outsourcing work in (a) public relations, (b) strategic communications and (c) brand management and consequently has no contracts with companies specialising in these areas.
	The only major advertising campaign that the Department is running this year is Fire Kills that urges people to test their smoke alarms regularly in order to avoid deaths and injuries from fire in the home. The national advertising creative elements are handled by agency RKCR/Y&R and the value of their contract this year is £220,000 on current estimates. All advertising is placed in media outlets through the Central Office of Information, the Government's agency for these services.

Housing: Visual Impairment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many homes designed specifically for blind or visually impaired people have been (a) built or (b) adapted in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued about (a) the support required and (b) the housing needs, including design, of people who are blind or visually impaired;
	(3)  how many assessors have been given specific training in awareness of blindness, low vision and sight loss in respect of housing needs.

Grant Shapps: We do not keep records relating to the number of homes designed specifically for blind or visually impaired people or details around assessors. However, the Government are committed to encouraging the delivery of homes and neighbourhoods which are safe and inclusive, where nobody is disadvantaged and which all people are able to occupy and use regardless of their ability.
	While this Department does not issue guidance on this matter, guidance on meeting the needs of blind or visually impaired people is available for practitioners to draw on from organisations such as the Pocklington Trust who have undertaken extensive research and publish a wide range of technical literature on housing design for use by designers, landlords and home owners:
	www.pocklington-trust.org.uk
	The Government are also supporting the Design Council to provide advice to practitioners on designing homes and neighbourhoods to meet the needs of people regardless of their ability:
	www.designcouncil.org.uk

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the impact of the reduction of the Empty Property Rates threshold on the growth of new business centres.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Julian Sturdy) on 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 2MC, and my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Adam Werritty

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any Ministers in her Department have met (a) Mr Adam Werritty, (b) representatives of Atlantic Bridge and (c) representatives of Pargav Ltd in an official capacity in the last 18 months; and what the dates were of any such meetings.

Richard Benyon: No DEFRA Ministers have met with Mr Adam Werritty, representatives of Atlantic Bridge or representatives of Pargav Ltd in an official capacity in the last 18 months.

Agriculture: Pay

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the possible effect of the abolition of the (a) Agricultural Wages Board and (b) agricultural minimum wage on (i) pay levels, (ii) employment and (iii) the activities of unlicensed gangmasters in the agricultural sector.

James Paice: On the assumption that the Public Bodies Bill is given Royal Assent, DEFRA will carry out a public consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board. We intend to publish a full impact assessment and equality impact assessment on the effects of any abolition as part of the consultation exercise.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 October 2011, Official Report, column 1405W, on wildlife: circuses, if she will publish any advice that she has received from the Better Regulation Executive on the proposed regulatory framework for setting up and operating a licensing regime; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: We have been developing our proposals for a licensing regime for wild animals in travelling circuses in line with Better Regulation Executive guidance and advice. This includes the preparation of an impact assessment to be scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). The impact assessment and draft legislation will be published as part of the public consultation on our proposals early next year.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 October 2011, Official Report, columns 381-2W, on zoo: licensing, for what reasons circus inspections were conducted on a confidential basis; and if she will ask those who requested confidentiality to agree to publication and the placing of a copy in the Library.

James Paice: These inspections were conducted to establish the feasibility of an enforceable licensing regime. To ensure full participation, the participants were given assurances that the data collected would be confidential. The reports are confidential and as a consequence we will not release them.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department plans to introduce registration and licensing for camelids.

James Paice: DEFRA has no plans to formally register or license camelids.

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 397, to which broadband league tables she was referring to; and if she will place a copy of those league tables in the Library.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Lady to the following documents:
	the December 2010 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ‘Digital Economy Paper No. 165—Indicators of Broadband Coverage’, which shows the UK as being among 14 OECD countries with very few or no Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections;
	the Ofcom ‘International Communications Market Report 2010’, which states that household take-up of superfast broadband in the UK at the end of 2009 was 0.2%; and
	the Commission for Rural Communities ‘Rural Advocate Report 2010’, which states that only 1.5% of UK villages and hamlets were able to receive cable-based broadband (as against 60% of urban areas).
	I will place copies in the Libraries of the House.

Common Land

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responses her Department has received to its consultation on the designation of town and village greens; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The consultation on proposals for the registration of new town or village greens closed on 17 October 2011. Officials are currently considering all of the responses received and we will announce our conclusions early next year.

Departmental Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost to her Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period her Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque.

Richard Benyon: The average cost of processing an invoice is £3.70. This includes all overheads.
	Over 99% of the payments issued by DEFRA are issued electronically, with the remainder being issued by cheque. This figure has remained consistent over the course of the last financial year.

Departmental Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees her Department employed in each year since 1997.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA was created in June 2001 and the following table shows the number of staff in post in DEFRA and its Executive agencies each year since then, in terms of full-time equivalents and headcount. The split between full-time and part-time employees is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent Head count 
			 1 April 2002 13,737 14,206 
			 1 April 2003 13,513 14,030 
			 1 April 2004 13,442 14,004 
			 1 April 2005 13,205 13,723 
			 31 March 2006 12,983 13,595 
			 31 March 2007 11,814 12,363 
			 31 March 2008 10,640 11,168 
			 31 March 2009 10,189 10,730 
			 31 March 2010 10,042 10,629 
			 31 March 2011 9,112 9,689

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010;
	(2)  what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private secretaries in her Department.

Richard Benyon: The circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks are set out in the publicly available booklet ‘HMG Personnel Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office website.
	It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts or individuals within the Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks are set out in the publicly available booklet ‘HMG Personnel Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office website.
	It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.
	The names of special advisers are included in the quarterly publication of the list of special advisers which is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office website.
	There are no ministerial-appointed policy advisers in the Department.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in her Department.

Richard Benyon: The Department uses Defence Business Services National Security Vetting and FCO Services—National Security Vetting to undertake security vetting at counter terrorist check, security check and developed vetting level. These are both Government services.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were in possession of a security pass for her main Departmental headquarters, including multi-site headquarters and not including staff or contractors, in each month since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites, subject to security checks. Disaggregating the number of security passes held other than by staff or contractors in each month since May 2010 would incur disproportionate costs.

E-mail

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in her Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of government business.

Richard Benyon: The Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct government business.

Fisheries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of illegal cocklers working in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria; and what steps she is taking to reserve permits for local fishermen.

Richard Benyon: Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are responsible for the management of cockle fisheries in England. These fisheries are primarily managed through permit schemes. Permitting schemes are district wide in application, and limit the number of active fishermen and/or the quantities of cockles that can be harvested. However, IFCAs do not restrict the issue of permits to local fishermen.
	In order to obtain a North West Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) permit, applicants must provide evidence of identity, evidence of address and a valid national insurance number. They must also complete a one day training course on safe working in intertidal areas. Permits are restricted to experienced fishermen, although the byelaw provides for 40 new permits to be issued each year from a waiting list.
	By its nature, illegal fishers cannot be accurately quantified. IFCAs use all available resources to enforce their individual permit schemes. The NWIFCA is responsible for the management of the cockle fisheries in the North West and Cumbria. 440 permits were issued for 2011-12 under NWIFCA Byelaw No.5.

Fisheries

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will assess the potential effects of the closure of the Western Waters scallops fishery on jobs related to the local scallop fishing industry;
	(2)  whether she had recent discussions with the Scallop Association on the closure of the Western Waters scallops fishery.

Richard Benyon: The recent closure of the important Area VII scallop fishery to UK vessels over 15 metres in length has clearly created problems for the sector. We are working with industry to avoid a situation where it causes permanent damage to these businesses and the markets they have worked hard to develop over the years. To reopen the fishery this year the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is seeking to source additional effort from other member states by agreeing international swaps.
	Following a preliminary assessment of the likely impact of the closure on the scallop fishing industry, the MMO decided to close the fishery in October as the industry's preference was for an early closure to allow the possibility of them being able to supply scallops to the lucrative French Christmas market.
	DEFRA officials and the MMO have been in regular contact with the Scallop Association and other parts of the industry throughout this process. These discussions began prior to the closure, firstly at the UK Scallop Group in June, followed by a dedicated meeting in late August and have been continuing on an almost daily basis as MMO sought to agree the best possible deal for the wider UK fishing industry via international swaps.

Fisheries: Quotas

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress was made on increasing the quota allocation for fish species at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 21 October 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister I attended the Council meeting on 21 October. We had a useful exchange of views on the important EU-Norway negotiations and secured the Fisheries Commissioner's agreement that fishing quotas should not be subject to an automatic cut for those stocks for which data is considered incomplete; instead, total allowable catches will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Though this year's negotiations will be challenging, the removal of the threat of a blanket cut for data-incomplete stocks is a positive development.

Fisheries: Statistics

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department has allocated to the (a) collection and (b) analysis of data on UK fish stocks in each of the last five years; and how much such funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four years.

Richard Benyon: The European Commission's Data Collection Framework (DCF) establishes a European Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy (CFP). The UK overall national programme's actual and forecast figures under this framework are set out below. EU financial assistance for national programmes is provided to member states up to a level of 50%.
	
		
			  £ 
			 Actual  
			 2007 5,718,828 
			 2008 5,958,746 
			 2009 6,266,058 
			 2010 6,847,338 
			   
			 Forecast  
			 2011 8,139,028 
			 2012 7,858,681 
			 2013 8,889,999 
		
	
	DEFRA has allocated £3.2 million this year to fund our share of the marine finfish and shellfish data collection element of the above national programme. Data collection is carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
	DEFRA has also allocated funding of £2.9 million in the current financial year for CEFAS to carry out additional finfish and shellfish data collection and analysis work.
	CEFAS provides expertise to many of the working groups of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to provide fish stock assessments. The UK also contributes an annual share, within an allocated budget of £0.2 million, for the work of ICES to provide analysis and advice that informs EU annual proposals on fishing opportunities. In addition, the Fisheries Science Partnership scheme, which carries out fishery surveys and other one-off projects working in partnership with fishermen, has departmental funding this year for £0.95 million. This scheme provides data to support ICES assessments.
	These budget allocation figures include an overall cut of 5% this year, and continue to be subject to the Government's ongoing comprehensive spending review process.

Floods: Insurance

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to announce plans to take forward the statement of principles for flood insurance after it concludes in 2013.

Richard Benyon: We are working closely with the insurance industry to ensure that flood insurance remains widely available in England after the Statement of Principles expires in 2013, and will provide an update on this work before Christmas.

Food: Prices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of fuel prices on food prices in (a) each of the last five years and (b) the next five years.

James Paice: There are a number of factors that affect food prices in the shops, the largest driver being world commodity prices, but with exchange rates and oil prices also having an impact.
	Increases in global energy prices increase the cost of agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers, putting an upward pressure on commodity prices. Along the food supply chain, higher energy prices will impact retail food prices by increasing the cost of transporting, processing and marketing.
	Recent research modelling undertaken by the university of Nottingham and the university of Exeter for DEFRA(1) showed that the long term effect of a 10% shock to the world price of oil, translates into a 3.50% increase in retail food prices, other factors held constant. However, there will be interactions with other drivers of retail food prices, and the modelling shows that larger persistent shocks have a greater effect than smaller one-off shocks.
	DEFRA routinely monitors trends in the affordability of food, looking at both domestic retail food price inflation (as measured by the consumer price index) and changes in the factors that drive domestic retail food price inflation.
	(1) Retail Food Price Inflation Modelling Project—T. Lloyd et al, April 2011

Metals

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has commissioned on reducing the loss of phosphorus into watercourses and the sea; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA funds research on the loss of phosphorus and other pollutants into watercourses and the sea through the following research programmes:
	Sustainable Water Management (Agriculture); and
	Water Availability and Quality.
	The Environment Agency also funds research on agricultural, urban other sources of phosphorus pollution.
	This research broadly covers:
	Identifying sources of phosphorus and other pollutants, and predicting pollution risk;
	Understanding the movement of phosphorus in the environment;
	Understanding environmental impacts;
	Understanding the interaction between phosphorus and other pollutants; and
	Developing cost-effective approaches to mitigating agricultural and other sources of pollution.
	DEFRA has recently established three Demonstration Test Catchments to test approaches to the reduction of agricultural diffuse pollution and the improvement of ecological status in freshwaters, while maintaining economically viable food production.
	Information and reports on the above mentioned projects can be found on the DEFRA and Environment Agency websites.

Phosphate-Based Fertilizers

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking with the agriculture sector with the cost of phosphate-based fertilizers.

James Paice: DEFRA provides guidance on accounting for the phosphate content of manures, slurries and other non-mineral fertiliser sources coming into farms, and on reducing phosphate-based fertiliser inputs accordingly, thereby increasing efficiency in the use of phosphorus on farm and reducing input costs. The Department is aware of the effects that fluctuating prices of phosphate and other fertilisers can have on farming businesses, but it is not the role of Government to intervene in the market price of fertilisers.

DEFENCE

Adam Werritty

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish emails between Mr Adam Werritty and special advisers in his Department pertaining to official business.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 18 October 2011
	There are no such emails.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has had meetings with Mr Adam Werritty in an official capacity when civil servants were not present; and whether any other individuals were present at such meetings.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 18 October 2011
	I have not attended meetings at which Mr Werritty was present.

Adam Werritty

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many entry passes to his Department were issued to Adam Werritty since the end of April 2010.

Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 986W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
	It is a matter of public record that Mr Werritty made 22 visits to the Ministry of Defence. These are listed in the Annex to the Cabinet Secretary's report into ‘Allegations against Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP’, which is freely available on the Cabinet Office website at the following address:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/allegations-against-rt-hon-dr-liam-fox-mp-report-cabinet-secretary
	This answer corrects the answer provided by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1281W, to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) in which the number of visits was given as 14.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, whether Lord Astor of Hever informed his Department of his meeting with Adam Werritty in Bahrain in December 2010;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, at what large social gatherings the Under-Secretary of State for International Security met Mr Werritty; and where each such event took place;
	(3)  how many meetings (a) officials in his Department and (b) military personnel have attended with representatives of IRG Ltd since May 2010;
	(4)  which officials were present at the meeting attended by the Minister for International Security Strategy, Mr Adam Werritty and a representative of IRG Ltd; how the meeting was arranged; and whether notes were taken of the issues discussed;
	(5)  what the name is of the representative of IRG Ltd who was present at the meeting attended by the Minister for International Security Strategy and Mr Adam Werritty;
	(6)  (a) when and (b) where the meeting attended by Mr Adam Werritty, the Minister for International Security Strategy and the representative from IRG Ltd took place.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 31 October 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Secretary (Sir Gus O’Donnell)’s report of 18 October 2011.
	The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever, has met Mr Steven Crouch, a director of IRG Ltd, socially on no more than five occasions over several years. The Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr Howarth), has had one meeting with Mr Crouch. Records of any other meetings between officials or military personnel with representatives of IRG Ltd are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Mr Howarth's meeting with Mr Crouch, which is referred to in the Cabinet Secretary's report, was at the suggestion of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) and took place on 27 September 2011 in the House of Commons. No officials were present and no note of the meeting was taken. No substantive issues were raised, no confidential information was disclosed, and there was no follow-up to the meeting. After the meeting had taken place Mr Howarth informed his office in accordance with the Cabinet Secretary's guidelines. The two social events that both Mr Howarth and Mr Werritty attended took place in Wiltshire on 16 July and in London on 24 September 2011.
	Lord Astor acknowledged Mr Werritty as they passed in a hotel reception area in Bahrain in December 2010. It was not a meeting, either official or unofficial, and Lord Astor had no further contact with Mr Werritty while in Bahrain. There was, therefore, no requirement to inform the Ministry of Defence about the contact but the incident was referred to in the Cabinet Secretary's report for completeness.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, whether Lord Astor of Hever informed his Department of his trusteeship of Atlantic Bridge upon his appointment as a Defence Minister.

Philip Hammond: The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever, resigned as a trustee of Atlantic Bridge before taking up his positions within the Ministry of Defence. There was therefore no requirement to discuss this upon his arrival.

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the jetties at (a) Glen Mallen and (b) Crombie will be able to accept the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers for berthing.

Nick Harvey: While both jetties could potentially accept the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers for berthing, further infrastructure work would need to be carried out in order to make them fully operational and suitable for berthing the carriers.
	It is planned that the QE class aircraft earners will be base-ported in Portsmouth.

Ammunition: Storage

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total storage capacity for UK munitions is at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas.

Nick Harvey: The storage capacity for the Defence Munitions sites at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas, expressed as a proportion of the total storage capacity of the Ministry of Defence's defence munitions sites is:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 Crombie 2 
			 Beith 7 
			 Glen Douglas 11 
		
	
	This calculation excludes munitions deployed on operations or stored in facilities locally awaiting transit for training or onward movement to operations.

Ammunition: Storage

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what NATO funding his Department receives for the munitions facilities at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence currently receives no funding from NATO for the munitions facilities at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas.

Ammunition: Storage

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK is the sole user of the munition facilities at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas.

Nick Harvey: The UK is the sole user of munitions facilities at Defence Munitions sites at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas. The jetty facilities at Crombie are available for use by visiting forces of NATO and other partner nations.

Armed Forces

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have extended their terms of service since 7 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested; however, data on the extension of service where it is available is as follows.
	3,055 members of the RAF have extended their terms of service since 7 May 2010.
	From 2010 to date, the naval service has offered extensions of service to 333 personnel. Data on whether these offers were accepted is not held centrally.
	Data for the Army could be compiled only by examining personal records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Germany

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to have an estimate of the cost of the forthcoming return of British troops from Germany.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 2 November 2011
	The costs involved in bringing troops back from Germany will not be known until the outcome of detailed planning currently being undertaken is completed. There will however be savings in the region of £250 million a year on allowances, education and medical support that currently exists for the Germany garrisons, once the move is completed.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were issued with notifications of termination of contract in each month since May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: Service personnel do not have a contract of employment and may leave the armed forces for a wide variety of reasons. The number of personnel notified that they were included in tranche 1 of the armed forces redundancy scheme, in September 2011 is given in the following table.
	
		
			 1 redundancy—September 2011 
			  Number 
			 Naval service 1,020 
			 Army 920 
			 RAF 920 
			 Note: Figures have been rounded.

Armed Forces: Suicide

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to examine the underlying causes of recent trends in suicide rates among male army recruits aged 16 to 19 years; and what steps he is taking to address this.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The risk of suicide among male Army personnel in the under 20 age group has been reducing over the last 15 or so years. Between 2006-10 the risk of suicide among male Army personnel in this age group was 9% lower than the equivalent age group in the male UK population.
	The Army monitor all self-harm incidents, including suicide, and has put in place a range of policies and welfare support to try and prevent these occurring. These include the Army Suicide Vulnerability Risk Management (SVRM) policy which is aimed at helping the chain of command to identify those who may be vulnerable and, once identified, how to manage their care with the appropriate welfare and medical services.
	All staff at recruiting and training establishments are trained to recognise and identify vulnerable trainees who may be having problems. Commanding officers undertake risk assessments in accordance with the supervisory care directive which takes account of the particular factors of the environment, the age of the trainee population, and the type of training being undertaken. Welfare support is available to recruits 24 hours a day through unit welfare officers, padres and others such as the Women's Royal Voluntary Service. They also have access to confidential helplines and free counselling.

Defence Equipment

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaydon of 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1167W, on defence equipment, what his Department's policy is on using special couriers to transport military kit; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The policy for the prioritisation of demands to transport defence equipment is contained in Joint Service Publication 886 (The Defence Logistics Support Chain Manual). The two highest priority demand codes require the 'fastest possible means' of delivery. This can be achieved by either Ministry of Defence transport or contract freight services, including special courier, depending on the circumstance.

Defence: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much and what proportion of the defence budget was allocated to service pay in each of the last three years.

Andrew Robathan: The following table shows the amount spent by the Ministry of Defence on service pay for the last three financial years, and the percentage of total defence spending this equates to.
	
		
			 Financial year Service pay (£ billion) Percentage of total defence spending 
			 2008-09 8.937 23 
			 2009-10 9.481 24 
			 2010-11 9.888 25 
		
	
	The figure for service pay includes salaries, allowances, pensions and national insurance contributions.

Departmental Computers

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department was subject to cyber attacks since May 2010; and what form each such attack took.

Nick Harvey: Within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) there are technical, organisational, procedural and physical measures in place to protect against and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks. In 2010, the MOD detected and blocked more than 1,000 potentially serious attempts to infiltrate or disrupt our computer systems, however we do not comment on the specific detail of cyber security incidents or threat assessments.

Departmental Meetings

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the Ministry of Defence website at the following address:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Expenses/MinistersHospitalityReceived.htm
	The information currently published covers May 2010 to March 2011 and is being updated on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Government's ongoing transparency programme.

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the (a) cost, (b) date of commencement and (c) duration of each private finance initiative contract managed by his Department.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 27 October 2011
	Information on private finance initiative contracts that were signed prior to 16 March 2011 is available on the Treasury's website at the following address:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
	In addition to listing the project name and responsible Department, the information available includes the capital value of the asset and associated unitary charge payments, the date the contract was signed, and the operational period of the contract.
	This information is updated twice yearly.

Departmental Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded for off the shelf systems where no customisation was required since May 2010.

Nick Harvey: In the period from 1 May 2010 to 31 October 2011, the Ministry of Defence let over 8,000 new contracts. The details of these contracts are not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of Operation Kipion on the UK's international relations; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Operation Kipion is the UK's overarching operation for Defence presence and contribution to security in the middle and near east. It covers a wide range, but not all, of our operational activity in the region, in support of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague’s), Gulf Initiative.
	Through our high level engagements and through anecdotal reporting from our security co-operation activities it is our strong belief that the activities, bounded within the operation have had a positive effect on the way in which the UK is perceived in the region. Continuing to enhance our defence links is a key part of our ongoing commitment to the region.
	We are now working more closely with our international partners on maritime security operations including combating terrorism, piracy, and weapons proliferation. We expect that the strength of these relations will continue to increase as the operation matures.

Libya: Armed Conflict

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of flying hours for Operation Ellamy were spent in transit to the operational area for (a) Tornado and (b) Typhoon.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 1 November 2011
	The vast majority of UK Tornado and Typhoon aircraft missions flown in support of Operation Ellamy were from Gioia Del Colle, Italy, which is in the UK joint operational area. In those cases all flying hours were within the operational area.
	Some UK Tornado missions were flown from RAF Marham in the UK. However, while the Ministry of Defence has details of the proportion of time spent in transit for these sorties, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Libya: Armed Conflict

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of air tanker support were required to enable Tornado sorties flown from the UK as part of Operation Ellamy.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 1 November 2011
	170 hours of air tanker support using a combination of VC10 and Tristar aircraft were required to enable the small number of Tornado sorties flown from the UK as part of Operation Ellamy.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) sorties and (b) combat sorties the Royal Air Force participated in as part of Operation Ellamy.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 3 November 2011
	From the start of Operation Ellamy until 27 October 2011, the Royal Air Force conducted approximately 2,990 sorties, of which 2,060 were combat sorties. The Army and Royal Navy also conducted both combat and other air sorties during the operation.

Military Aircraft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 602W, on military aircraft, whether he has considered mothballing the Sentinel R1 following its withdrawal from service; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: As announced in the strategic defence and security review, our current plan is to withdraw the Sentinel system from service when it is no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan.
	Disposal plans for the Sentinel R1 remain immature, and no options have been ruled out.

RAF Leuchars

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 993W, on RAF Leuchars, if he will place in the Library a copy of the sustainability appraisal undertaken in April 2011.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 31 October 2011
	A copy of the sustainability appraisal for RAF Leuchars will be placed in the Library of the House.
	As part of the Basing review process further sustainability and other environmental studies will be undertaken.

RAF Leuchars

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the future of the (a) 58 RAF Regiment, (b) 612 Regiment, (c) 71 Engineer Regiment, (d) HQ Dundee and Central Scotland Wing Air Training Corps, (e) East of Scotland University Air Squadron, (f) Mountain Rescue Team, (g) No. 2 RAF Police Wing and (h) 6 Force Protection Wing currently based at RAF Leuchars; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 2 November 2011
	Plans for the transfer of RAF Leuchars to the Army are at an early stage. Therefore, at this point, I am unable to provide more detailed information on the future location of those units currently based at RAF Leuchars.

RAF Menwith Hill

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of US personnel stationed at Menwith Hill.

Nick Harvey: There are 1,200 US personnel stationed at RAF Menwith Hill. This figure is comprised of the following groups:
	US military: 450
	US civilians: 400
	US contractors: 350.

Rescue Services: Helicopters

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on potential long-term procurement options for search and rescue helicopters; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 1 November 2011
	Discussions between the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence are ongoing regarding a range of potential options to meet future requirements for helicopter search and rescue in the UK. I understand that the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), intends to make a statement on the matter before the end of the year.

Submarines: Decommissioning

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's consultation on submarine dismantling, if he will estimate the cost of (a) towing a submarine, (b) towing a barge with a submarine on it and (c) using a heavy lift ship to transport a submarine between Rosyth and Devonport.

Nick Harvey: The information requested on estimated costs relates to the development and formulation of Government policy, and its disclosure would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.

Trident

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which areas his Department has assessed as having the highest risk of cost overrun within the programme to replace Trident nuclear submarines.

Philip Hammond: The project management of the successor submarine programme includes the use of formal, best practice, recognised risk management techniques. This is based upon a joint risk management approach, which is being overseen by a joint Ministry of Defence (MOD)/industry integrated programme management team.
	The aim of this approach is to ensure that risks and opportunities are identified and assessed, and that appropriate steps are taken to reduce risk to an acceptable level. There are regular reviews to confirm risks are being managed effectively.
	Assurance that risk has been reduced to an acceptable level, and that individual risks have been reflected in the cost modelling, will be important elements of the main gate approval process in 2016. These will be subject to independent scrutiny from within the MOD and from Her Majesty's Treasury.
	I am withholding further details as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and impact on the formulation or development of Government policy.

HEALTH

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Simon Burns: Details of all ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. The latest data up to the end of March 2011 can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartment Leaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759
	No special advisers have met with Adam Werrity. Information on whether officials have met with Adam Werrity could be provided only at disproportionate cost but Ministers are aware of no such meetings.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people who exceed the Government's guidelines for weekly alcohol consumption.

Anne Milton: The Department will be bringing together the Government's approach in an alcohol strategy to be published in the near future. The Change4life campaign will also be incorporating messages of the health risks from alcohol consumption early next year.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each age group who exceed the Government's guidelines for weekly alcohol consumption.

Simon Burns: Current Government recommendations are that adult men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and adult women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
	Information from surveys on the number of units drunk on a typical day in the previous year along with frequency of consumption is used to calculate average weekly consumption. Table 2.4 of the ‘Statistics on Alcohol: England 2011’ provides information on the percentages of the population by gender and age group who exceed the weekly equivalent of the guidelines at 21 units for men and 14 units for women.
	The ‘Statistics on Alcohol: England 2011’ report and tables have been placed in the Library.

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has sought legal advice on the compatibility of the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol with European law.

Anne Milton: The Home Office has lead responsibility for alcohol pricing policy and has sought and received such legal advice on behalf of the Government.

Arthritis

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to support people with mobility problems caused by arthritis.

Paul Burstow: Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence outlines the. Care which people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can expect to receive. This includes appropriate medication to relieve symptoms and prevent further disease progression and access as needed to surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, and support for self care.
	For people with mobility problems there have been a number of recent initiatives to help improve access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health professional services, including pilots of self-referral; projects to demonstrate the potential benefits from service redesign; and the development of systematic collection of information on referral to treatment waiting times.
	A new Community Equipment Services model makes it easier for people to obtain simple items of equipment or home adaptations. For those who need wheelchairs, we have recently carried out a review led by two regional pilot sites and a report is now being prepared to provide advice for other areas wishing to improve their services. Finally, our policies on Any Qualified Provider and on personal health and social care budgets will in future enable people with continuing healthcare needs, including people with arthritis, greater control and choice over the services they receive.

Back Pain

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to publish a quality standard on lower back pain.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) jointly with the National Quality Board recently ran an engagement exercise on the library of NICE Quality Standard NHS health care topics. As part of this exercise a proposed library of topics was published for comment. Within this proposed library of topics ‘Low Back Pain’ was included. The engagement exercise closed on 14 October 2011. NICE are currently analysing the responses received and will be able to provide more information in due course. Further information on the engagement exercise can be found at:
	www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved/currentniceconsultations/NQBEngagement.jsp

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the provision of digital mammography in NHS screening services.

Paul Burstow: Local national health service breast cancer screening programmes in England are replacing their current analogue (film) systems with digital systems (direct digital mammography—DDM). As at October 2011, 67 (83.7%) of the 80 local programmes had at least one DDM X-ray set, and 33 (41%) were fully digital. Local programmes have been advised to implement direct digital as quickly as possible as the independent Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening (has said that running both film and digital systems together is inefficient. 13 programmes (16%) are still to implement digital mammography.

Carers: Employment

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support and practical assistance the Government provides to carers who are seeking work following the death of the person being cared for.

Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
	A person who was entitled to carer's allowance immediately before the death of the person cared for continues to be entitled to it for up to eight weeks afterwards.
	Depending on their personal circumstances, the ex-carer may claim or continue to claim other benefits such as jobseeker's allowance if they are actively seeking and available for work; employment and support allowance if they have a disability or incapacity which limits their capability for work; or, in other circumstances, income support. These benefits include a carer premium for people who are entitled to carer's allowance.
	Regardless of which benefit carers or ex-carers claim, Jobcentre Plus provides personalised and flexible practical assistance for those seeking work, either directly or through Work Programme providers.
	The level of support offered by Jobcentre Plus; how quickly a person is referred to the Work Programme; and whether engagement is voluntary or mandatory depends on which benefit is being claimed. So for example an ex-carer claiming jobseeker's allowance could volunteer to enter the Work Programme three months into their claim.
	Local Jobcentre Plus offices are empowered to decide when and how to support customers, tailoring that support to their individual need, although support may be subject to mandatory participation depending on the benefit being claimed. Jobcentre Plus District Managers and advisers have access to a comprehensive flexible menu of options to enable them to make the cost effective choices and provide the right support to individuals.
	The support available directly through Jobcentre Plus may include:
	mandatory adviser interviews and jobsearch reviews
	flexible interviews, the frequency and duration of which are decided by a personal adviser
	work preparation, including help with CV writing or interview skills
	referral to approved training
	work trials, work experience, access to help if considering self-employment and work clubs
	access to funds to help with the costs of training and returning to work
	help to calculate whether the person would be better off in work when considering a job, and
	advice about in-work benefits and adviser support during the early weeks in work.
	When determining the level of support ex-carers receive, they are treated as though they were still carers for eight weeks following the end of their caring responsibilities. Once a carer or ex-carer has started receiving this support, they can continue accessing it until they start full time work or are mandated to participate in the Work Programme.
	Jobcentre Plus works in partnership in local communities with service providers, Local authorities, the NHS, voluntary and community sector and employers to find ways to support carers and ex-carers back to work.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued;
	(2)  in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010;
	(3)  which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Simon Burns: The number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received and answered by the Department in each month since May.2010 to September 2011 is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Month and year Number of FOI cases received Number of FOI cases answered on time (or within permitted extension) 
			 May 2010 129 129 
			 June 2010 170 170 
			 July 2010 170 170 
			 August 2010 180 180 
			 September 2010 170 170 
			 October 2010 160 160 
			 November 2010 199 199 
			 December 2010 166 166 
			 January 2011 240 240 
			 February 2011 168 168 
			 March 2011 208 208 
			 April 2011 132 131 
			 May 2011 125 125 
			 June 2011 153 153 
			 July 2011 167 167 
			 August 2011 151 151 
			 September 2011 154 154 
		
	
	The further information requested about partial and full disclosure and timeliness is not routinely collected on a monthly basis and to provide this would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, this information is collected quarterly and is published by the Ministry of Justice at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	The number of responses to FOI requests received by the Department using certain exemptions since January 2010 is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Reasons for withholding information under FOI from January 2010 - June 2011 
			  Number 
			 Commercial interests_(s43) 64 
			 Information not held 773 
			 Cost limits (s12) 224 
			 Vexatious and repeat requests (s14) 9 
		
	
	It is the responsibility of senior departmental officials within relevant policy teams to determine whether exemptions under the FOI Act should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
	However, section 36 of the FOI Act sets out an exemption from a ‘right to know’ if the disclosure of information, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. In England, the FOI Act defines a qualified person as any Minister of the Crown for information that is held by a Government Department.
	In general, clearance for the use of section-36 is sought from the Minister responsible for departmental management, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Earl Howe.

Departmental Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2011, on lost computers and mobile telephones, how many losses or thefts of (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment there have been since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The following table gives details of departmental losses and thefts from May 2010 to 30 September 2011.
	
		
			 Departmental losses and thefts 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 
			  Number 
			 Computers 14 
			 Mobile telephones 8 
			 BlackBerries 55 
			 Other IT equipment 19 
			 Total 96 
		
	
	NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH) is part of the Department's Informatics Directorate. However, there are a number of fundamental differences between the Department and NHS CFH including suppliers and equipment used. It is therefore deemed appropriate to display the figures for NHS CFH losses and thefts separately to the rest of the Department.
	
		
			 NHS CFH losses and thefts 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 
			  Number 
			 Computers 13 
			 Mobile telephones (includes all mobile devices) 32 
			 BlackBerries 0 
			 Other IT equipment 9 
			 Total 54

Departmental Official Engagements

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the ministerial diary of the Minister of State for Social Care for October to December 2010.

Paul Burstow: Details of all ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. The latest data up to the end of March 2011 can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759

Disability: Young People

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a clinical network for children with defined responsibility for developing care pathways for (a) disabled children and young people (i) with complex needs and (ii) requiring palliative care and (b) other disabled children and young people.

Paul Burstow: Clinical networks will support the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services, based on a wide-range of multi-disciplinary input. Proposals for the role of clinical networks will be developed after the completion of a review of clinical networks which is currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to assess how the functions and range of networks can most effectively support commissioners.

Disability: Young People

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under his proposed reforms which part of the NHS will be responsible for (a) designing care pathways and (b) shaping local services for (i) disabled children and young people (A) with complex needs and (B) requiring palliative care and (ii) other disabled children and young people.

Paul Burstow: We are determined to embed children's health explicitly throughout the new system.
	Clinical commissioning groups will be responsible for commissioning services for children and young people with a disability or complex needs. They will work in partnership with the health and well-being boards that will be a forum for local commissioners across the national health service, local government; elected representatives, and representatives of HealthWatch to agree how to improve the health and well-being of the people in their area including children and young people. The NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) will have responsibility for the direct commissioning of a number of services from April 2013. Included within those services will be services for people with rare conditions which are currently commissioned at both a national and regional level as described in the Specialised National Definitions Set.
	When commissioning children's services, both the NHSCB and clinical commissioning groups will also seek advice from paediatricians, nurses and other clinical professionals with expertise across a range of areas.
	There will be senior clinical leadership for children's services within the NHS Commissioning Board, providing advice and support to commissioners.

Disability: Young People

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what function the NHS Commissioning Board will have in respect of national delivery of health services for (a) disabled children and young people (i) with complex needs and (ii) requiring palliative care and (b) other disabled children and young people.

Paul Burstow: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will have a duty to conduct a performance assessment of each clinical commissioning group in respect of each financial year.
	When conducting a performance assessment, the board has a duty to consult each relevant health and well-being board as to its views on the clinical commissioning group's contribution to the delivery of any joint health and well-being strategy. Health and well-being boards will include a director of children's services.
	The board will have a duty to have regard to jointly prepared local joint strategic needs assessment (JSNAs) and the joint health and well-being strategy (JHWSs) in its own direct commissioning.
	The board will have responsibility for the direct commissioning of a number of services from April 2013, including those services for people with rare conditions, which are currently commissioned at both a national and regional level as described in the Specialised National Definitions set.
	There will be senior clinical leadership for children's health services within the NHS Commissioning board providing advice and support to commissioners.

Fats: Health Hazards

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the quantity of trans fats consumed in the UK; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce such consumption.

Anne Milton: The Department monitors the presence of trans fats in the United Kingdom diet through a rolling programme, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). Estimated mean intakes of trans fat for all age groups from 2008-09 to 2009-10 of the NDNS were 0.7-0.9% of food energy (calorie intake), well within public health recommendation of no more than 2% of food energy.
	As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, the Department is working in partnership with UK food businesses to remove artificial trans fatty acids (TFA), from the few foods that still contain them.
	Businesses are pledging to remove artificial TFA from products by the end of 2011. They will achieve this by removing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and limiting the levels of artificial TFA in oils and fats used as ingredients or in preparing foods (eg frying oils) to a maximum of 2%.
	This voluntary action will help to ensure that intakes of trans fats remain low, and give consumers confidence that artificial trans fats will not be added to foods in the future.

General Practitioners: Finance

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average total payment per GP made to general practices in England was in the last year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The total payment per general practitioner made to all general practices in England in 2010-11 is £237,738, based on the four combined contracting routes for: general medical services, personal medical services, alternative provider medical services and primary care trust medical services.

Health

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to placing a statutory duty on local authorities to reduce health inequalities.

Simon Burns: Local authorities are independent democratic bodies. Nationally, we will be able to promote a focus on tackling health inequalities through such non-legislative means as the Public Health Outcomes Framework. We believe such non-legislative approaches are at least as effective as a legal duty on local authorities in the Health and Social Care Bill.

Health

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the ability of public health policy to reduce healthcare costs for the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The ongoing public health reforms are part of a long term strategy designed to produce substantial savings for the national health service in the future.
	We provided some figures to demonstrate the potential savings that would arise from the reforms in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England”. We stated that:
	"Changing adult behaviours could also reduce premature death, illness and costs to society, avoiding a substantial proportion of cancers, vascular dementias and over 30% of circulatory diseases; saving the NHS the £2.7 billion cost of alcohol abuse; and saving society the £13.9 billion a year spent on tackling drug-fuelled crime."
	A copy of the White Paper has previously been placed in the Library.
	Through investing in public health and spending effectively on prevention, we aim to release efficiency savings which can then be used elsewhere in the NHS.

Health Professions

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that all statutorily regulated health professionals, including osteopaths, will be able to input into the design of relevant patient pathways.

Simon Burns: The Government want the full range of health and care professionals to be involved in the new commissioning arrangements, supporting the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services. Both the board and clinical commissioning groups will have a statutory duty to secure professional advice from persons who taken together have a range of professional expertise.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice.

Health Protection Agency

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the quality of accountability through the regional structures of the Health Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The quality of accountability in the regional structures of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is assessed as part of the formal governance structures set out in the HPA management statement. This process includes the Department undertaking regular accountability reviews of the HPA through quarterly performance reports and an annual accountability review. Each region contributes to this process by reporting on progress against objectives set out in the agreed HPA business plan.

Hepatitis

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis his Department has undertaken on any relationship between hepatitis C infection and health and social inequalities.

Anne Milton: Evidence indicates that hepatitis C in this country affects populations who may experience inequalities, with people who inject drugs at greatest risk of acquiring infection. Studies also suggest that there may be a relatively high prevalence of hepatitis C and associated liver disease in certain minority ethnic populations.
	In response to this evidence, improvements in national surveillance have been made to monitor HCV infection and diagnostic testing in the general population as well as in particular risk groups, including people who inject drugs, offenders, minority ethnic populations and men who have sex with men. The findings of this surveillance are reported annually in the Health Protection Agency's “Hepatitis C in the UK” report.
	The Heath Protection Agency's annual reports on hepatitis C provide further details of hepatitis C in population risk groups, a copy of the most recent report “Hepatitis C in the UK, 2011” has been placed in the Library.

HIV Infection

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of Government funding for HIV education and prevention in England.

Simon Burns: This year, the Department has invested £2.9 million in a national programme of HIV prevention for men who have sex with men and African communities, the groups most at risk of HIV in the United Kingdom. Prevention will be a key part of the Government's new Sexual Health Policy Framework.
	The Department is currently considering how national HIV prevention programmes might be taken forward from 2012-13 when the current programmes end. At a local level, it is for local primary care trusts, and from 2013 local authorities, to decide their level of investment in HIV prevention, taking into account HIV prevalence and their wider public health needs.

HIV Infection: Greater London

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of cases of HIV in London.

Simon Burns: Targeted HIV prevention programmes for those groups at increased risk of HIV continue to play an important role in reducing the number of cases of HIV both in London and on a national level. The Department continues to fund the Terence Higgins Trust and the African Health Policy Network for prevention work both in London and nationally.
	At a local level, it is for local primary care trusts, and from 2013 local authorities, to decide their level of investment in HIV prevention, taking into account HIV prevalence and their wider public health needs.

Hospital Beds

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) acute and (b) non-acute patients aged 18 years and over were occupying a hospital bed but eligible for discharge by NHS commissioner area in each quarter in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011 to date;
	(2)  how (a) acute and (b) non-acute patients aged 18 years and over were occupying a hospital bed but eligible for discharge by local authority area in each month in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011 to date.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect data in each quarter or month but we have a snapshot figure that represents an average of the number of patients delayed per day during that period. This information has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Eggs

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidelines to hospitals on their buying criteria to ensure eggs produced in conventional cages should not be used in any form.

Simon Burns: We encourage national health service organisations to adopt the Government Buying Standards (GBS) for food, where possible, through the NHS operating framework for 2011-12 published in December 2010. Mandatory GBS criteria currently bans the use of fresh (in-shell) eggs from conventional cage systems. If a cage system is used it should be enriched cages. In light of the forthcoming European Union ban on conventional cages, we intend to extend this mandatory criteria to cover all liquid and powdered egg products, which are currently in voluntary best practice criteria.
	This Government believe that their role is to set a credible and workable example for the wider public sector to follow, and it is this that the GBS is designed to deliver. All public bodies have a different set of requirements and the local people most closely connected with them, staff, patients, governors, will have different priorities, making them best placed to decide how to achieve the objectives we are aiming for.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many urgent NHS operations were cancelled in each month of (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011 to date.

Simon Burns: The number of urgent cancellations in each month requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Urgent cancellations 
			  Month Number 
			 2009-10 April 166 
			  May 195 
			  June 173 
			  July 234 
			  August 144 
			  September 115 
			  October 239 
			  November 283 
		
	
	
		
			  December 215 
			  January 309 
			  February 264 
			  March 197 
			    
			 2010-11 April 204 
			  May 178 
			  June 165 
			  July 240 
			  August 172 
			  September 185 
			  October 173 
			  November 211 
			  December 322 
			  January 222 
			  February 248 
			  March 237 
			    
			 2011-12 April 219 
			  May 205 
			  June 271 
			  July 203 
			  August 254 
			  September 310 
			 Note: Prior to August 2010, these figures were collected weekly, and therefore the monthly figures shown are an aggregate of either four or five weeks as opposed to a calendar month. Source: Weekly and monthly sitreps.

Learning Disability

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with a learning disability in England who are being supported (a) exclusively or (b) predominantly through a health budget; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Personal health budgets are currently being piloted across England. Over 2,700 people have been recruited into an independent evaluation programme. Around half of them will have personal health budgets; the remainder are in a control group. The evaluation does not include a specific cohort of people with learning disabilities. So, although it is likely that many people with learning disabilities are involved in the pilot, we do not yet know how many, or to what extent their needs are being supported through a personal health budget.
	However, the evaluation team will gather information and report on the conditions that people have, including learning disabilities. The final evaluation report is due in October 2012.

Learning Disability

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of adults with a learning disability in England; what steps he is taking to ensure there is sufficient funding for people who need care and support due to learning disability; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect information on estimates of the total number of adults with learning disabilities. However, the Institute of Health Research at Lancaster University estimated that in 2004 there were 800,000 adults (aged 20+) with learning, disabilities, which they modelled would increase to 870,000 in 2011.
	The number of adults with learning disabilities receiving social care services as of 31 March 2010 was 102,500. This figure consists of 95,500 people aged 18 to 64 and 7,000 aged 65+.
	In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging local government settlement, the spending review allocated an additional £7.2 billion over four years to 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care.
	It is up to local authorities to choose how best to use their available funding. However, we think that the extra investment we have set out, combined with a rigorous focus on efficiency, will mean that there is funding available to protect people's access to care during the spending review period, including those with learning disabilities.

Lighting: Health Hazards

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) assessment he has made of and (b) representations he has received on the recent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks review of the ability of EU member states to manufacture incandescent bulbs available where there are medical grounds; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Anne Milton: The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) released a preliminary Opinion on the health effects of artificial light on 18 July 2011. SCENIHR have carried out a public consultation and scientific hearing on this opinion and we understand that SCENIHR will publish a final opinion before the end of 2011.
	The Government have asked the European Commission to take the SCENIHR review and recommendations into account.
	The Department is continuing to work with patient groups, clinicians and the lighting industry to keep the health issues under review.

Medical Treatments: VAT

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the inability of NHS trusts to recover VAT on medical treatments compared to the ability of dispensing pharmacists to do so; and what representations he has received from patients and pharmacists on collection of prescriptions from their local pharmacists which are taken into hospital to be administered.

Simon Burns: Value-added tax (VAT) is a matter for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Since 1 May 2010, the Department has received fewer than 10 written representations on the inability of national health service trusts to recover VAT on medical treatments compared to the ability of dispensing pharmacists to do so; and fewer than five written representations from patients and pharmacists on the collection of prescribed medicines from their local pharmacies which are then taken into hospital to be administered.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the role of osteopathy in reducing workplace sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders.

Anne Milton: The Department has not made an assessment of the specific effects of complementary medicines, such as osteopathy, in reducing workplace sickness absence. However, improving health in the workplace is a key part of public health policy through both the ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’ White Paper and the Public Health Responsibility Deal.

NHS: Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the participation rate was for the NHS pension schemes in each pay band in each year from 2006 to 2010.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.
	However, using data from the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Data Warehouse it is possible to estimate pension membership rates for Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) staff for the end of the period of interest:
	
		
			  Estimated pension membership rate (headcount) 
			  September 2009 (%) September 2010 (%) 
			 Non-Medical   
			 AfC Band 1 64 64 
			 AfC Band 2 78 77 
			 AfC Band 3 82 82 
			 AfC Band 4 86 85 
			 AfC Band 5 87 87 
			 AfC Band 6 91 91 
			 AfC Band 7 95 94 
			 AfC Band 8a 96 96 
			 AfC Band 8b 97 96 
			 AfC Band 8c 97 97 
			 AfC Band 8d 98 98 
			 AfC Band 9 98 97 
			 Other 97 96 
			    
			 Medical   
			 Consultants 97 96 
			 Training Grades 95 95 
			 Other Medical 90 90 
			    
			 All HCHS 87 87 
			 Notes: 1. The ESR Data Warehouse contains monthly snapshots of the live ESR system, which is a payroll and human resources system containing staff records for national health service employed staff in England. It contains records on all NHS staff except for those in the following groups: general practitioners (GPs), GP practice staff and other primary care providers e.g. dentists; two foundation trusts (Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust); and those staff groups affected by Transforming Community Services where the service is now provided by a non-NHS organisation. 2. Pension membership rates are estimated by considering the proportion of ESR's, across staff groups, with recorded employer pension contributions. Aggregate estimates are then produced using published NHS Information Centre work force census data collected annually each September. Data cleaning processes are also applied to the ESR extracts before use. 3. For non-medical staff, estimates are generated by Agenda for Change (AfC) pay band. Medical staff are not employed on AfC terms so estimates are provideo1 by broad staff groups.

NHS: Private Sector

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the number of NHS patients who will seek private treatment of the proposals contained in the Health and Social Care Bill;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-European Economic Area overseas private patients that would be treated in NHS hospitals as a result of his proposals in the Health and Social Care Bill.

Simon Burns: The Government's assessment to date of the proposal to remove the private patient income cap for foundation trusts is contained in the Government's Command Paper, “Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps”, and the Impact Assessments so far published for the Health and Social Care Bill 2011.

Older People: Carers

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he allocated to social care for the elderly in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Allocating funding for adult social care is the responsibility of local authorities, who receive funding from central Government through the local government formula grant and raise money locally through council tax.
	The latest local authority budget data for 2011-12 show that local authorities have budgeted £7.0 billion towards social care for those over 65. We also estimate that around £300 million has been transferred to local authorities for older people's services from primary care trusts this year, as part of the additional support for social care provided through the health system. Budgeted expenditure for older people will therefore be around £7.3 billion this year.

Primary Care Trusts: Per Capita Costs

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much Mid Essex Primary Care Trust received per capita in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average level of per capita funding for primary care trusts in England was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  which 10 primary care trusts received the (a) highest and (b) lowest level of per capita funding in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Mid Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT) received funding of £1,399 per capita in the 2011-12 PCT revenue allocations compared to the national average of £1,693.
	The 10 PCTs with the highest and lowest per capita funding for 2011-12 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 2011-12 total revenue allocations per head  (1) 
			  £ 
			 Highest  
			 Islington PCT 2,350 
			 Newham PCT 2,320 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 2,275 
			 Knowsley PCX 2,246 
			 Liverpool PCT 2,200 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 2,180 
			 Blackpool PCT 2,128 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 2,116 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 2,101 
			 Lambeth PCT 2,074 
			   
			 Lowest  
			 Berkshire West PCT 1,367 
			 South Gloucestershire. PCT 1,370 
			 Mid Essex PCT 1,399 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 1,403 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 1,407 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 1,431 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 1,439 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 1,446 
		
	
	
		
			 Berkshire East PCT 1,451 
			 Kingston PCT 1,458 
			   
			 England average 1,693 
			 (1) In December 2010 PCTs were informed of their total 2011-12 revenue allocations which include: 2011-12 recurrent revenue allocations; non-recurrent allocations for primary dental services, pharmaceutical services and general ophthalmic services; and support for joint working between health and social care. 
		
	
	These allocations were announced separately in 2010-11.

Public Health England

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure Public Health England is operationally independent of Government.

Anne Milton: Public Health England will be established as an Executive Agency of the Department of Health on 1 April 2013, and will work in an open and transparent way. It will be managed by a chief executive who will be solely responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency. Public Health England will receive its own budget to deliver its services. It will have scientific committees that will provide rigorous and impartial advice on public health issues. This operational freedom will be supported by a framework agreement between the Department and Public Health England which will set out the roles and responsibilities of both organisations.

Skin Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many single technology appraisals have been published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for (a) malignant melanoma and (b) each other cancer disease area since 1 March 2010;
	(2)  how many treatments for people with advanced melanoma have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence since 1 March 2010.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not published any final technology appraisal guidance on treatments for malignant melanoma or advanced malignant melanoma. NICE is undertaking three appraisals of drugs for the treatment of this condition.
	Since 1 March 2010, NICE has published 21 single technology appraisals on treatments for cancer. This includes three appraisals that were terminated because NICE did not receive an evidence submission from the manufacturer or sponsor of the technology.

Social Services: Fees and Charges

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the evidential basis used by his Department to set £23,250 as the proposed means-tested threshold for social care costs.

Paul Burstow: With effect from 1 April 1993, the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 set the upper capital limit at £16,000. This was based on the figure used in the financial assessment for income support. Due to the passage of time, it is not possible to establish the reasons that the level set was felt to be appropriate at the time. Contemporary papers and reports are not available.
	Since 1993, the upper capital limit, for residential charging, has been periodically uprated. The last uprating, to £23,250, was in 2010.

Speech and Language Disorders: Health Services

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were (a) wholly and (b) partially state funded for speech and language therapy in 2010; and what estimate he has made of funding that will be provided by his Department in each such category in the remainder of the Comprehensive Spending Review;
	(2)  which primary care trusts have announced funding reductions for speech and language therapy during the Comprehensive Spending Review period; and what the level was of each such funding reduction;
	(3)  what the total cost to the public was of funding speech and language therapy in 2010; and what he estimates the cost will be in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected centrally. Funding for speech and language therapy is provided within the national health service budget and decided by local NHS organisations. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community, including the provision of speech and language therapy.

St Helens and Whiston NHS Hospital Trust

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to make his decision on the funding gap at St Helens and Whiston NHS Hospital Trust.

Simon Burns: The Department is currently examining the private finance initiative issue in a small number of trusts where it cannot be resolved locally. As part of the potential provision of financial support to specific national health service trusts going forward to support them achieve foundation trust status, this is being considered. The framework and process have not been finalised. However, in relation to any support, which might be provided to trusts, the Department has outlined four key tests that they would have to meet:
	the problems they face must be exceptional and beyond those faced by other organisations;
	they must show that the problems are historic and that they have a clear plan to manage their resources in the future;
	they must show that they are delivering high levels of annual productivity savings; and
	they must deliver clinically viable, high quality services, including low waiting times and other performance measures.
	Any specific decisions in relation to St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will be determined following the finalisation of the analysis and this framework.

JUSTICE

Young Offenders: Drugs and Alcohol

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of people entering young offender institutions who have drug and alcohol problems.

Crispin Blunt: No estimate has been made because this information is not collected centrally. From April 2012, the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) is being introduced into prisons and young offenders institutions in England. NDTMS will allow for accurate data to be collected from substance misuse services.

Prison Work

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to promote work in prisons.

Crispin Blunt: We have made clear our intention to make prisons places of work and industry. We are already making good progress towards longer prisoner working weeks at a number of prisons. We have also set up a Business Advisory Group to both advise and promote the outcomes we are seeking.
	These plans will require new businesses in prisons to cover their costs and the enhanced costs of undertaking work in prisons as well as providing a return for victims of crime and a contribution towards the rehabilitation of the prisoners engaged in this new commercially positive work.

Anti-corruption

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he last met the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to discuss corruption in sport as part of his role as the UK's international anti-corruption champion.

Kenneth Clarke: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues as part of my international anti-corruption champion role, although I have not met the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to discuss this particular matter. The UK is supporting the EU's efforts to reduce corruption in sport and I am monitoring the progress of this work.

Personal Injury Law

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reform the use of referral fees by personal injury lawyers.

Jonathan Djanogly: In my written ministerial statement of 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 32WS, I informed the House of the Government's decision to ban the payment and receipt of referral fees in personal injury cases. This ban is being taken forward through provisions in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Conditional Fee Arrangements

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of people who used conditional fee agreements in (a) privacy and (b) libel cases in 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: I understand that 158 defamation proceedings were commenced in the Queen's Bench Division in 2010, although we do not have data on how these cases were funded. Data provided to Lord Justice Jackson suggested that only 17.5% of a similar number of such cases in 2008 were funded by way of conditional fee agreement.

Census: Guernsey

Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what discussions his Department and the Bailiwick of Guernsey had on the decision not to organise a census of population in Guernsey in 2011;
	(2)  for what reason the Bailiwick of Guernsey has not organised a census in 2011.

Kenneth Clarke: My Department has not had any discussions with the States of Guernsey on their decision not to hold a census of Guernsey's population in 2011.
	As an internally self-governing dependency of the Crown, this is entirely a matter for the island authorities. However, I can inform the right hon. Member that the States of Guernsey has migrated to an electronic collation of social and economic data traditionally compiled by paper census. It was considered that the merits of moving to such a system were compelling, following examples set by countries such as Finland.
	Alderney is working with Guernsey towards adopting a similar system and Sark compiles its own population figures.

Charities

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice funds a large number of groups, including registered charities, voluntary and community groups. It would incur disproportionate costs to research each organisation, check its charitable status and disclose what grants were given.
	Grants are given to organisations that provide a wide range of services, such as the provision of support for victims of crime, mediation services, work to reduce crime and debt advice.

Civil Disorder

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of people convicted following the public disorder of August 2011 were children; and what proportion had parents subject to parenting orders.

Crispin Blunt: The latest available published data, as of 12 October 2011, on offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the public disorder between 6 and 9 August 2011, show that 185 offenders (27%) were aged between 10 and 17 years.
	In order to allow timely reporting of statistics on offenders proceeded against at the magistrates courts for offences resulting from the 6-9 August public disorder, a dataset has been compiled from manual returns from the courts. The available information does not include whether a parent of an offender found guilty of an offence related to the public disorder was subject to a parenting order.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce the level of civil litigation.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government are implementing fundamental reform of civil litigation funding and costs. We are also banning referral fees in personal injury cases. The Government believe that together these changes will deter unnecessary and avoidable claims from progressing to court.

Coroners

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with faith groups on his proposals for the future of the Office of Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have not had any formal discussions with faith groups on this matter, however the Ministry of Justice has just consulted on the proposals for the future of the office of the chief coroner as part of a wider consultation on the Public Bodies Bill reforms and received responses from faith groups. Faith groups were also consulted on the new charter for the coroner service, and we have corresponded with leaders of faith groups on specific coroner issues such as less invasive post-mortem examinations.

Departmental Assets

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assets with a value of £250,000 or more his Department has bought since May 2010; for what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: Since May 2010, the Department has bought the following assets with a value of £250,000 or more:
	
		
			 Name of the asset Value (£ million) Purpose 
			 Secure email—IDS 0.3 Email upgrade 
			 Secure email —LDAP 0.4 Email upgrade 
			 Law courts 1.4 Site for the new Aberystwyth law courts 
			 ISIS prison 136.6 Provision of new prison capacity

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

Jonathan Djanogly: To answer this question in full, a manual search of every request received and answered by the Ministry of Justice since May 2010 would be required, as we do not have the means to extract the information electronically. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	Relevant information readily available is, however, provided as follows. The Ministry of Justice publishes on its website quarterly and annual statistics on freedom of information requests received by over 40 central Government bodies, and it is from these publications that the following statistics are taken. The available statistics cover the period April 2010 to June 2011. Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for the remainder of 2011 will be collated and published in due course.
	Between April 2010 and June 2011 the Ministry of Justice provided the full information requested 844 times. This statistic, and the quarterly breakdown as follows, includes only first requests, it does not include information provided at internal review or subsequent appeal stages available under the Freedom of Information Act ('the Act'). Full disclosure by quarter:
	
		
			 Quarter Full disclosure 
			 April-June 2010 152 
			 July-September 2010 190 
			 October-December 2010 164 
			 January-March 2011 167 
			 April-June 2011 171 
		
	
	Between April 2010 and June 2011 the Ministry of Justice partially withheld information in 344 first response requests, and by quarter:
	
		
			 Quarter Partial disclosure 
			 April-June 2010 57 
			 July-September 2010 59 
			 October-December 2010 99 
			 January-March 2011 68 
			 April-June2011 61 
		
	
	Between April 2010 and June 2011 the Ministry of Justice withheld the whole response of information 1477 times, and by quarter:
	
		
			 Quarter Withheld 
			 April-June 2010 267 
			 July-September 2010 309 
			 October-December 2010 247 
			 January-March 2011 339 
			 April-June 2011 315 
		
	
	The following number of substantive responses have been issued by the Ministry of Justice since April 2010. In this case, 'substantive' should be understood as any answer that is not a holding response. The figures therefore include answers where the Ministry of Justice has: confirmed it does not hold the information; explained that providing the information would exceed the cost limit provided for in the Act; declined to answer under section 14 of the Act (vexatious or repeated requests); provided all the information requested; and provided some of the information requested.
	
		
			 Quarter Substantive response 
			 April-June 2010 818 
			 July-September 2010 887 
			 October-December 2010 822 
			 January-March 2011 948 
			 April-June 2011 901 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice has issued a 'holding reply' on 47 occasions between April 2010 and June 2011. A holding reply in this instance is one sent in accordance with the provisions of the Act informing the requester that the balance of the public interest arguments relating to the disclosure of the information requested requires further consideration, and as such the deadline for response is legitimately extended. The Department can only take this approach if it is considering an exemption which is subject to the application of a public interest test. By quarter, the figures are as follows:
	
		
			 Quarter Number of PIT extensions 
			 April-June 2010 13 
			 July-September 2010 11 
			 October-December 2010 8 
			 January-March 2011 9 
			 April-June 2011 6 
		
	
	The Department is unable to provide information about the number of requests not responded to within 40 days, without incurring disproportionate cost. However, the number of times that the Department has responded to a FOIA request beyond the statutory 20 day deadline is 660 (April 2010-June 2011). This can be broken down further:
	
		
			 Quarter Responded to late 
			 April-June 2010 125 
			 July-September 2010 93 
			 October-December 2010 84 
			 January-March 2011 136 
			 April-June 2011 222 
		
	
	The number of cases that had not received a substantive response, at time of the relevant official statistics publication, for the period April 2010-June 2011, areas follows:
	
		
			 Quarter Number substantive response yet issued 
			 April-June 2010 22 
			 July-September 2010 18 
			 October-December 2010 17 
			 January-March 2011 50 
			 April-June 2011 105

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice publishes on its website quarterly and annual statistics on Freedom of Information requests received by over 40 central government bodies. The information provided has been taken from these publications. The figures provided are for the period 1 January 2010 to 31 June 2011.
	Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics beyond 31 June 2011 will be collated and published in due course.
	These figures include only first requests; information provided at internal review or subsequent appeal stages available under the Freedom of Information Act (‘the Act’) are not included.
	
		
			  Number 
			 (a) Commercially sensitive information 38 
			 (b) Do not hold 914 
			 (c) Refused under costs 1126 
			 (d) Refused as repeated 19 
			 (e) Refused as vexatious 7 
		
	
	The total number of requests received in this period was 4,075.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Jonathan Djanogly: Departmental officials within the Ministry of Justice determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are engaged.
	However, the application of the exemption in Section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) of FOIA is subject to the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, who for Government Departments is a Minister of the Crown.
	The Ministry of Justice obtains the opinion of the qualified person by seeking the view of—usually—the Minister responsible for the subject matter to which the information relates.

Departmental Lost Property

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, columns 391-2W, on departmental lost property, whether he has had discussions on the activities of ElcomSoft and its password breaking programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has not had any discussions on the activities of ElcomSoft and its password breaking programmes.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he receives any external funding for (a) his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such funding.

Kenneth Clarke: Neither my ministerial office nor special advisers are funded externally.

Departmental Travel

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on first class travel by (a) air, (b) boat and (c) train since May 2010.

Kenneth Clarke: Since May 2010 the Ministry of Justice has spent the following on first class travel:
	(a) Air: £4,279;
	(b) Boat: nil;
	(c) Train: £889,138.
	We have introduced a new travel and subsistence policy in April 2010 containing restrictions on using first class travel. However, the policy does recognise that in certain cases (e.g. when accompanying a Minister or where a member of staff has special needs) and with prior management approval, first class travel is undertaken.

Extradition

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on how many extradition requests to the UK have been refused by a court under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in each year since 2000.

Crispin Blunt: The Department does not compile information about requests for extradition of persons from the United Kingdom in a way that would permit the reasons for refusal to be ascertained to this level of detail. The information requested could therefore only be found by manual examination of case files, and would incur a disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid Scheme: Prisoners

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners currently serving indeterminate sentences in England and Wales have received legal aid for proceedings in the family courts relating to (a) custody of children, (b) adoption of children, (c) contact with children and (d) parental responsibility.

Jonathan Djanogly: This information is not kept by either the Ministry of Justice or the Legal Services Commission.

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many times his Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011;
	(2)  how many officials in his Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information is as follows:
	(1) The Legal Directorate within the Ministry of Justice provides advice to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke) and Ministers directly as required and indirectly when policy officials request legal advice for submissions. There is no central record of all the legal advice provided by the Legal Directorate and it would not be possible to provide this information for the periods requested without manually searching files and submissions and incurring disproportionate costs.
	(2) Total headcount in Legal sections of the Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			  Number 
			 MOJ HQ 85 
			 HMCTS (July figures) (1)1,852 
			 NOMS (2)— 
			 ALBS/NDPBS (3)— 
			 (1) Includes magistrates courts legal advisers and tribunal lawyers and registrars. (2) No legal staff employed directly. (3) Information for the period requested is not available centrally and can not be collated within the time frame without incurring disproportionate costs. 
		
	
	Under the Governments Transparency Agenda the department publishes senior salary and organogram data for the MOJ and its agencies including executive NDPBs (CCRC, CICA, ICO, JAC, LSC, LSB, Parole Board and YJB) on the Justice website however it does not include advisory NDPBs.
	The last figures published provided information as at 31 March and, the next exercise will produce the September data which is due to be published at the end of November. This information can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to answer the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 27 September 2011 with regard to Mr Naseer Ahmed Bhatti.

Kenneth Clarke: I have now replied.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in prison who are (a) citizens of other EU member states and (b) non-EU citizens.

Crispin Blunt: As at 30 September 2011 there were 11,076 foreign national prisoners, of which 3,776 were EU nationals and 7,300 non-EU nationals. The number of foreign national prisoners held in all prison establishments in England and Wales by nationality is published quarterly in the Ministry of Justice Statistics bulletin ‘Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin—Table 1.5. The publication is available free of charge via the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/oms-quarterly.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Private Sector

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which services (a) the National Offender Management Service and (b) his Department provide to private companies which are managing jails.

Crispin Blunt: Private sector suppliers do not generally rely on shared services being provided by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) or the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for the delivery of their contractual commitments.
	Private sector providers receive some support in relation to auditing and assurance, contractual and operational policy advice and operational and incident support. In addition, on newer custodial contracts they use some MOJ third-party contracts for goods and services (e.g. food), where there are financial benefits and it is in the public interest. Other shared national contracts include contracted court and inter-prison escorting services and, where appropriate, as part of an integrated national service, data, security and some other operational arrangements are shared.

Translation Services

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total cost to the public purse was of providing translation services to foreign (a) defendants in court cases and (b) offenders in prisons in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice's central accounting systems do not all separately record the costs of providing translation services to foreign defendants and offenders. It would incur disproportionate cost to disaggregate such costs from the respective accounts.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place.

Gregory Barker: Details of meetings that are held between DECC Ministers and external parties are published externally on the Department's website on a quarterly basis. Information for other officials' meetings is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Adam Werritty

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Energy and Climate Change whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere.

Gregory Barker: Details of meetings that are held between DECC Ministers and external parties are published externally on the Department's website on a quarterly basis. Information for other officials' meetings is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Carbon Emissions: Pilot Schemes

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State for Climate Change to the Public Bill Committee on the Energy Bill [Lords] of 21 June 2011, Written Evidence, column 42S, what progress has been made on establishing follow-on pilot programmes to the local carbon framework pilots.

Gregory Barker: DECC-supported the £2.5 million Local Carbon Frameworks pilot in 2010-11, which involved 30 local authorities. Its aim was to identify the best ways to reduce carbon emissions at a local level. An evaluation of the pilot and toolkit for the benefit of all local authorities will be published later this year. There are no plans to run further local carbon framework pilots but DECC will continue to support local authorities cut carbon, and I have recently asked the Committee on Climate Change to provide advice on this.

Combined Heat and Power: Social Rented Housing

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has plans to promote the installation of micro-combined heat and power in (a) residential property and (b) social housing for the purposes of reducing carbon emissions and fuel costs.

Gregory Barker: Micro combined heat and power will be eligible for the Green Deal, which will be available to all sectors, including social housing. It can be financed with Green Deal finance if it has been recommended during the Green Deal assessment for a given property that it can achieve savings on the energy bill.
	The first 30,000 domestic sized installations (=2 kW) of micro combined heat and power are also supported by the feed-in tariff under a pilot scheme.

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: No applications have been received from any member of DECC's senior civil service to run any services for which DECC is responsible since May 2010, and we have no record of any such applications from other DECC employees.

Electricity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2011, Official Report, column 1112W, what timetable he has set for the implementation of measures to improve competition in the domestic energy market.

Charles Hendry: The Government plan to lay an order in Parliament this month to increase the threshold for supplier participation in the Community Energy. Saving Programme (CESP) and Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). We expect it to be in force before the end of the year.
	Ofgem has announced that it plans to consult later this month on a range of tariff proposals that aim to reform the energy market by making it simpler and more competitive to reduce tariff complexity.
	In December, Ofgem plan to make a decision on their proposals to improve electricity wholesale market liquidity.

Feed-in Tariffs: Housing

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the average cost to homeowners of bringing a property up to level C energy performance certificate rating before qualifying for eligibility for receipt of the feed-in tariff.

Gregory Barker: The Government's current consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV) sets out two options for strengthening the link between energy efficiency and FITs. The first option is that only buildings with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of level C would be eligible for the standard FITs rates for solar PV.
	The costs of reaching level C will vary depending on the base-level energy performance of the building in question. However, we estimate that for a typical house, an investment of up to £5,600 in energy efficiency measures may be required to bring a property up to level C.
	From autumn 2012, the measures necessary to meet level C would be largely financeable through the Green Deal. Prior to that, the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) scheme may also be able to provide a proportion of the installation costs for the more basic measures.

Gas Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the installed available generating capacity was of each (a) coal, (b) gas (combined-cycle gas turbine), (c) nuclear, (d) oil and (e) renewables plant in November 2011.

Charles Hendry: DECC publishes data on installed generation capacity for each plant owned by major power producers in the UK. This is updated on an annual basis, data up to May 2010 are available in table 5.11 of DUKES at the following link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx
	At any point in time, not all installed capacity may be available, for a number of reasons, including unplanned and planned (maintenance) outages. Based on its Winter Outlook Report (published on 11 October 2011) , National Grid's operational view of Great Britain's generation capacity anticipated to be available for the start of winter 2011 is 81.8 GW. A breakdown of this capacity is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Operational view of generating capacity available for winter 2011-12 
			 Fuel type Capacity (MW) 
			 CCGT 29.3 
			 OCGT 1.2 
			 Pumped storage 2.7 
			 Oil 3.4 
			 Coal and biomass 28 
			 Wind 3.4 
			 Hydro 1 
			 Interconnectors 3 
			 Nuclear 9.8 
			 Source: Taken from figure E3. Embedded renewable generation is not included. 
		
	
	The full National Grid report can be found at the following link:
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/BE947476-51DF-4D5F-8E2B-5342595157A9/49492/Winter_Outlook_Report_201112.pdf
	Generators declare their forward availability to National Grid. These data are revised on a continuous basis, and are used by National Grid for both operational and planning purposes. Summary charts of declared availability (“output usable”), by fuel type, are available at the following link:
	http://www.bmreports.com/bsp/bsp_home.htm
	daily, two to 14 days ahead; and
	weekly, two to 52 weeks ahead.

Meters

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure the installation of Smart meters is done in such a way that data on the household will be made secure.

Charles Hendry: The Government recognises the privacy and security of personal data as an important issue and are putting in robust arrangements in place to protect consumers.
	We are committed to following the principle of 'Privacy by design', which means that privacy issues are considered early and embedded into the design of the smart meter programme. The Government's key principles underpinning the programme's privacy framework are that consumers should have a choice as to how their smart metering data is used and by whom, except where it is required to fulfil regulated duties. We are minded to define regulated duties narrowly. The intention is to publish a further consultation on privacy policy proposals in 2012.
	In addition, the arrangements for the security of the smart metering system have been developed by a dedicated team of security experts within the programme, who perform ongoing risk assessments in order to identify the nature of possible threats, and ensure that risks are appropriately managed.

Oil: Safety

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the threat to oil platforms from terrorism or criminal attack; and what steps he is taking to prevent such attacks.

Charles Hendry: The Department maintains a continuous assessment of threats to upstream oil and gas infrastructure from all sources including terrorism or criminal attack in conjunction with the Security Services and the industry. A number of measures are used to mitigate the risks; these are applied in proportion to the significance of each piece of infrastructure.

Pensioners: Fuel Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to lift pensioners out of fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: Government are committed to supporting vulnerable consumers and tackling fuel poverty and have in place a range of policies to contribute towards these aims. These include the Warm Home Discount to assist more of the most vulnerable households with their energy bills. The Core Group element of this scheme provides an automatic rebate of £120 this winter on electricity bills to poorer pensioners.
	Warm Front continues to provide assistance with insulation and heating measures to low income and vulnerable pensioner households.
	The CERT extension and Super Priority Group have a significant positive impact on fuel poverty. Around 185,000 households could receive measures to provide a long-term solution to fuel poverty. Many more households will receive measures which will protect them from falling into fuel poverty.
	Looking forward Government continue to work towards introducing the new energy company obligation—the ECO—within the Green Deal framework. A key focus for the ECO will be on providing support for low income and vulnerable households who cannot achieve significant energy savings without an additional measure of support, enabling them to heat their homes more affordably on a long-term basis, and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Renewable Energy: Heating

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has considered including bioliquids in the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Gregory Barker: As stated in the Renewable Heat Incentive policy document (published in March), we are considering whether to support bioliquids as part of developing the second phase of the scheme.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) feed-in tariff and (b) solar installations there were in (i) the UK, (ii) each local authority area and (iii) each parliamentary constituency in each of the last 15 years.

Gregory Barker: The table, which will be placed in the Libraries of the House, shows the total solar photovoltaic installed capacity in the UK at the end of each of the last 15 years. Prior to the introduction of Feed in Tariffs, data by local authority and parliamentary constituency, as well as the number of UK solar photovoltaic installations, are not available.
	The total number of Feed in Tariff installations and Feed in Tariff solar photovoltaic installations, in each local authority, parliamentary constituency and Great Britain as a whole, as at the end of September 2011, is given in an annex, a copy of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 6(ii) of his Department's consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1 - Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, for what reason 12 December was chosen as the reference date.

Gregory Barker: The reference date of 12 December 2011 proposed in the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) is six weeks after the publication date of this consultation. As the consultation explains, this period will allow many prospective generators, particularly householders, who have made a financial commitment to installing PV (for example, paying a deposit) to complete their installations and receive the current tariffs.
	We recognise though that some prospective FITs generators who have incurred or committed expenditure may not be able to complete their installations and submit their applications for FITs before the proposed reference date. In forming the proposal, we have taken into account the possibility of hardship to persons in this situation. We consider that the proposed approach is reasonable given a number of factors. These include the urgency of the concerns about the impact on the scheme's budget of continuing high levels of uptake at the current tariffs, including any rush of new installations triggered by the consultation. In addition, the proposed new tariffs are designed to provide a reasonable rate of return in line with those intended when the scheme was first introduced. The FITs scheme was never intended to provide windfall profits and in the current climate we regard the returns expected for FIT generators under the proposed new tariffs to be reasonable.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 32 of his Department's consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1 - Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, whether his Department has made an estimate of the average time lag between when a project is installed and when it is confirmed on Ofgem's central fit register.

Gregory Barker: The average length of time between the commissioning date of a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and the date on which it is confirmed on the Ofgem Central Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) Register is 49 days.
	It is important to note that the confirmation of an installation on the Ofgem Central FIT Register is the last stage in the FITs application process, and is later than the date an installation becomes eligible for FITs payments.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the timing of his planned consultation on solar feed-in tariffs on the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to fully participate in that consultation.

Gregory Barker: The reference date of 12 December 2011 proposed in the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) is six weeks after the publication date of this consultation. As the consultation explains, this period will allow many prospective generators, particularly householders, who have made a financial commitment to installing PV (for example, paying a deposit) to complete their installations and receive the current tariffs.
	We recognise though that some prospective FITs generators who have incurred or committed expenditure may not be able to complete their installations and submit their applications for FITs before the proposed reference date. In forming the proposal, we have taken into account the possibility of hardship to persons in this situation. We consider that the proposed approach is reasonable given a number of factors. These include the urgency of the concerns about the impact on the scheme's budget of continuing high levels of uptake at the current tariffs, including any rush of new installations triggered by the consultation. In addition, the proposed new tariffs are designed to provide a reasonable rate of return in line with those intended when the scheme was first introduced. The FITs scheme was never intended to provide windfall profits and in the current climate we regard the returns expected for FIT generators under the proposed new tariffs to be reasonable.
	The Department has not specifically assessed the impact of the timing of the consultation on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the potential effects of his proposals to alter solar feed-in tariffs rates before the conclusion of the consultation period on solar feed-in tariff rates; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The reference date of 12 December 2011 proposed in the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) is six weeks after the publication date of this consultation. As the consultation explains, this period will allow many prospective generators, particularly householders, who have made a financial commitment to installing PV (for example, paying a deposit) to complete their installations and receive the current tariffs.
	We recognise though that some prospective FITs generators who have incurred or committed expenditure may not be able to complete their installations and submit their applications for FITs before the proposed reference date. In forming the proposal, we have taken into account the possibility of hardship to persons in this situation. We consider that the proposed approach is reasonable given a number of factors. These include the urgency of the concerns about the impact on the scheme's budget of continuing high levels of uptake at the current tariffs, including any rush of new installations triggered by the consultation. In addition, the proposed new tariffs are designed to provide a reasonable rate of return in line with those intended when the scheme was first introduced. The FITs scheme was never intended to provide windfall profits, paid for by energy consumers in general, and in the current climate we regard the returns expected for FIT generators under the proposed new tariffs to be reasonable.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason his consultation on solar feed-in tariffs is six weeks long.

Gregory Barker: The consultation on proposed changes to feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV) runs for approximately eight weeks; from 31 October to 23 December 2011. This consultation period is shorter than that recommended in the code of practice on consultation. However, the Government considers that this is justified given the small number of issues covered by the consultation and the urgency of the budgetary risk that it is focused on addressing.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of solar PV systems which will have been installed, commissioned and submitted for accreditation to a feed-in tariff licensee before 12 December 2011.

Gregory Barker: We estimate that by 12 December 2011, a total of approximately 130,000 solar PV installations will be eligible for feed-in tariffs (FITs). This estimate is uncertain and depends on projected growth between now and 12 December.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 26WS, on feed-in tariffs, what estimate he has made of the number of planned solar PV installations scheduled to take place after 12 December 2011.

Gregory Barker: The following table sets out estimates for the number of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations that are projected to be installed between 12 December 2011 and the end of the current spending review period under the proposals set out in the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar PV.
	
		
			  Installations (cumulative total) 
			 12 December 2011-31 March 2012 30,000 
			 2012-13 55,000 
			 2013-14 85,000 
			 2014-15 115,000 
			 Notes: 1. Estimates are based on the impact assessment supporting the consultation on FITs for solar PV and take a midpoint of the projected impacts of the two options for energy efficiency requirements set out in the consultation. 2. Estimates are uncertain and depend on a number of factors including final decisions following the current consultation on FITs, how the market responds to any resulting changes in tariff levels, the future profile of costs of PV panels and the average size of installation for different tariff bands. 3. Estimates rounded to nearest 5,000.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 26WS, on feed-in tariffs, what impact assessment he carried out on the effect of the decision to reform the feed-in tariff on (a) the solar PV market and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises providing solar PV installations.

Gregory Barker: The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) estimates that new solar PV installations will continue to come forward under the proposed changes to FITs for solar PV. The number of installations are expected to be between 70-95% less for different tariff bands than under the “Do Nothing scenario”. The impact assessment does not estimate the specific impact of this, or the potential new business opportunities arising from the consultation proposals on energy efficiency, on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, columns 26-7WS, on feed-in tariffs, what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises installing solar PV who have been affected by the decision to reform the feed-in tariff.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold specific information on the number of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) currently installing solar photovoltaics (PV). 3,237 companies have been certificated to install solar PV under the Microgeneration Certification scheme. Of these, 3057 companies have been certificated since the start of the feed-in tariffs scheme in April 2010. We expect that the majority of these companies are SMEs.

PRIME MINISTER

Cabinet Committees: Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister which Cabinet Committee is responsible for discussing progress on the Government's Big Society agenda; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I have convened a steering group of Ministers on a number of occasions to help drive the big society agenda. The big society agenda is wide-ranging, covering various policy areas, and is embedded in departmental reforms. Therefore different Cabinet committees will consider different aspects.

Departmental Public Appointments

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  who has applied to be Head of the Civil Service; and when he plans to announce who will take up that appointment;
	(2)  how many hours per week he proposes that the Head of the Civil Service will devote to that role; and when he will have regular meetings with the post holder.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my office on 11 October 2011. This is available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/cabinet-secretary-announces-retirement

Tony Blair

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 524W, on Tony Blair, how much is payable in Public Duties Cost Allowance per year; what the rate was in each year since May 2007; how much was paid to Tony Blair in Public Duties Cost Allowance in each month since 2007; what restrictions apply to the use of this allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 338W.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Capital

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the Big Society Bank to make its first loan; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: I expect the Big Society Bank to become operational and start making investments in early 2012.
	In the meantime, I have directed the Big Lottery Fund to set up an interim Investment Committee to make initial investments to support the growth of the social investment market using up to £5 million of the English portion of money released through the dormant accounts scheme.
	The Investment Committee announced its first in-principle investment of up to £1 million in the Private Equity Foundation in July.

Charities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which organisations that applied for funding from the Transition Fund were not successful; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: There have been over 1,000 awards from the Transition Fund. We do not publish details of unsuccessful applicants but I can confirm that of the 1,721 applications made to the programme, 606 were unsuccessful.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Francis Maude: From 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2011 the Cabinet Office and its non-departmental public bodies employed no unpaid or expenses-only interns. However, the Department did offer 11 apprenticeships and 34 paid internships.
	The Social Mobility Strategy published in April 2011 clearly states that we want to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to fulfil their potential. Making work experience and internships available to young people from all walks of life is a key element of this. I am pleased that the Government are leading by example in Whitehall with a new internship programme for under-represented groups. The new Whitehall Internship Programme has been developed in response to a pledge in the coalition agreement which states that the Government will provide internships in every Whitehall Department for under-represented groups, including black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
	In addition to our internship schemes for university students and recent graduates, during the summer of 2011 the Cabinet Office also offered four high achieving 16-year-olds from low-income backgrounds an opportunity to complete a short paid work experience placement, aimed at raising the aspirations of young people who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to visit or work in Whitehall. Travel and living expenses were also provided, as well as accommodation in central London and a range of after work entertainment and development opportunities.

ElcomSoft

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received on the work of ElcomSoft and its password breaking programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Neither I nor my officials have received any representations from ElcomSoft about their work or products.

Federation of Student Islamic Societies

David Lammy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what correspondence his Department has received from (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) officials in the Home Office on recruitment events organised in conjunction with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies since 1 June 2011.

Francis Maude: There was limited correspondence in late October between Home Office and civil service fast stream officials regarding the status of the October Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) event that was organised to promote fast stream to FOSIS members.

Federation of Student Islamic Societies

David Lammy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil service recruitment events have been organised in conjunction with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies since 1 June 2011.

Francis Maude: Civil service fast stream attended, with several other major recruiters, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies Annual Careers and Community Fair on 18 June 2011, as an opportunity to promote the fast stream graduate talent management programme.

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the participation rate for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme was for each pay band in each year from 2006 to 2010.

Francis Maude: The number of employees eligible to be members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme but who opted out in the years between 2006 and 2010 are given in the following table, together with active membership of the scheme at the end of the relevant years, as published in the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts. We do not hold data on the breakdown of participation rates by pay band.
	
		
			 Number 
			  Opters out Active members at 31 March 
			 2006-07 4,421 594,000 
			 2007-08 5,576 577,000 
			 2008-09 5,366 564,000 
			 2009-10 4,322 574,000

Skin Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were diagnosed with malignant melanoma in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people were diagnosed with malignant melanoma in each of the last 10 years.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma (incidence) are for the year 2009. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	The table included in this answer provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin cancer in England for each year from 2000 to 2009.
	The latest published figures on the incidence of cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics-registrations--england--series-mb1-/no--40--2009/index.html
	
		
			 Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma, persons, England, 2000-09  (1,2) 
			 Cancer registrations 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 England 6,019 6,440 6,697 6,971 7,674 8,226 8,942 9,067 9,861 9,771 
			 (1) Malignant melanoma is coded as C43 in the International Classification of Disease, Tenth revision (ICD-10). (2) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year.

Social Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to promote the development of social finance; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Government are committed to supporting the growth of a strong social investment market. In February, we published our strategy—‘Growing the Social Investment Market: A vision and strategy’—which outlines our vision to create a new pillar of finance for social ventures.
	Since then, Big Society Capital (BSC) has been set up and is in the process of securing Financial Services Authority and State Aid approvals. We expect it to be open for business in spring next year. BSC will use up to £400 million of dormant accounts money and £200 million investment from the ‘Merlin’ banks to support organisations that invest in the social sector, helping them to provide a greater range of financial services to the social sector and to raise more money for onward investment into the sector.
	In July we announced a £10 million funding programme, to launch in 2012, for investment and contract readiness, in order to help social sector organisations prepare for new opportunities in public service delivery and social investment. In August, the Government announced a trial of four Social Impact Bonds which would let people invest in social projects and be paid a return if the projects are successful.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Females

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent annually on funding for organisations supporting (a) women's rights and (b) women's health in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: Details of all DFID's projects and programmes, including annual spend, are available online at:
	http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting programmes that directly benefit women's organisations and activities in Afghanistan. Our funding to the International Planned Parenthood Foundation and WOMANKIND Worldwide is supporting civil society organisations in Afghanistan and elsewhere address the human rights and practical needs of women and girls. During my recent visit to Afghanistan I launched a major new civil society programme which will help Afghan organisations to hold their government to account. The programme will particularly target women (and youth) and it is expected that many women's organisations will benefit. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides support to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Support Unit at the Ministry of Justice. The FCO also provides support to paralegal services working with women and girls in adult prisons and juvenile detention centres.

Afghanistan: Females

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department provides financial support to organisations in Afghanistan which provide assistance to women or girls who have been victims of (a) domestic abuse, (b) rape and (c) forced marriage; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development is not currently supporting organisations in Afghanistan that provide direct assistance to women and girls who have been the victims of domestic abuse, rape and forced marriage. However, during my recent visit to Afghanistan I announced a major new civil society programme which will help Afghan organisations to hold their Government to account, including on their obligations to protect women and girls from violence, and promote human rights more generally. The programme will particularly target women and young people and it is expected that many women's organisations will benefit, including those focussed on rights issues.

Afghanistan: Mortality Rates

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Afghanistan on maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: I had discussions in Kabul last week with Afghan Ministers on a range of subjects including health outcomes. Officials met with the acting Minister of Public Health in June 2011 to discuss maternal mortality issues. The ministry is prioritising women and children's health with a focus on reducing maternal mortality, as well as neonatal and under-five mortality. It has developed a new reproductive health policy and strategy to run from 2011 to 2013. We expect new data on maternal mortality in Afghanistan to be published by the Government of Afghanistan in the coming months.

Burma: Overseas Aid

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid he plans to provide to Burma in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's assistance to Burma has been designed to achieve results for poor and vulnerable people there, with programmes in areas including maternal health, livelihoods and malaria. To enable this, I have allocated the following levels of aid to Burma: £36 million in 2011-12; £36 million in 2012-13; and £55 million in 2013-14.
	Further details are available in the DFID Burma operational plan which is available on the DFID website;
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010.

Alan Duncan: The booklet HMG Personnel Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
	describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks.
	It is not appropriate to confirm which specific posts or post holders within a Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who within a Department has access to sensitive material and be used for hostile targeting of individuals.
	Since November 2010 the post of head of communications is held by James Helm, succeeding James Hardy. Since May 2010 the deputy head of communications is Deborah Hermer, and the head of news is Charlotte Morgan.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private secretaries in his Department.

Alan Duncan: The booklet HMG Personnel Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
	describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks.
	It is not appropriate to confirm which specific posts or post holders within a Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who within a Department has access to sensitive material and be used for the hostile targeting of individuals.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development currently uses both “Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services”, a trading fund of FCO, and the Defence Vetting Agency, for national security vetting.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people were in possession of a security pass for his main departmental headquarters, including multi-site headquarters and not including staff or contractors, in each month since May 2010.

Alan Duncan: 61 temporary building passes are currently held by persons other than staff (including those of other Government Departments) and contractors.
	The Department's access control system only holds data for current live passes, and historical information is not available.

Departmental Written Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many parliamentary questions for (a) ordinary written answer and (b) written answer on a named day by his Department have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May 2010.

Andrew Mitchell: None.

Developing Countries: Economic Situation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the effects of the recession on (a) developing countries and (b) developed country aid provision.

Andrew Mitchell: I have had a number of discussions regarding the effects of the recession with ministerial colleagues.

Developing Countries: Teachers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of his Department's country offices will deliver teacher training programmes to contribute to the Government's pledge to train 190,000 teachers by 2014; what plans he has to ensure that such programmes comply with the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities; and what guidance he has issued country offices on the use of participatory teaching methods to improve quality and inclusiveness in teaching.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government's pledge to train 190,000 teachers by 2014 will be delivered through multilateral organisations. DFID expects multilateral organisations to adhere to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in their operations. In addition, DFID is supporting teacher training through our bilateral education programme, as published in the Operational Plans of DFID Country Offices. In 2010, the Department issued a Guidance Note entitled "Education for children with disabilities—improving access and quality", which emphasises the importance of complying with the UN convention, and utilising inclusive methodologies in teaching to ensure quality and inclusiveness in education.

Equatorial Guinea: Overseas Aid

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 145W, on Equatorial Guinea: overseas aid, 
	(1)  what form the multilateral aid to Equatorial Guinea, to which the UK contributes, takes;
	(2)  what role the UK has in the oversight of performance, results and fiduciary issues relating to financial aid to Equatorial Guinea;
	(3)  if he will cease UK contributions to multilateral aid to Equatorial Guinea in light of the reports of excessive personal expenditure by a government Minister in that country;

Alan Duncan: In 2008-09 (the last year for which the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has published figures), Equatorial Guinea received $11 million in multilateral aid, comprising $5 million from the Global Fund to prevent malaria and treat HIV/AIDS, $4 million from EU institutions to improve governance, $1 million from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for HIV/AIDS education and clean water, and $1 million from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for reproductive health. The UK's imputed share of multilateral aid to Equatorial Guinea was £278,000 in 2008-09. Information on the imputed UK share of multilateral aid is published each year in Statistics on International Development.
	The Global Fund's grant to Equatorial Guinea for anti-retroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS has now closed and its grant for the provision of anti-malaria bed-nets is nearly closed. Equatorial Guinea does not currently have access to the 10th allocation of the European Development Fund, because it has not ratified the 1st revision of the Cotonou agreement.
	Along with other donors, the UK makes voluntary or assessed contributions to a range of multilateral development organisations which are not tied to a particular project, sector, or country and can be spent against any activity that relates to the organisation's mandate. It is for the organisations themselves, with approval from their management boards, to decide how best to allocate funding to meet their mandates.
	Following the Multilateral Aid Review, the UK is pressing to improve performance, results, value for money and fiduciary control in the multilateral development organisations to which we contribute. We do this through technical discussions, high-level meetings between DFID Ministers and senior officials of the organisations concerned, and our membership of the management boards.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions Official Development Assistance funding has been used to fund construction of an airport.

Alan Duncan: In order to fulfil obligations to provide basic levels of access, Official Development Assistance has been used over the past few years to fund elements of airport construction in two other Overseas Territories which are ODA eligible—Anguilla (completed in 2001) and Montserrat (2005). Aid has also been used in the past few years to assist the construction of an airport in Lashkar Gar in Afghanistan (2009).

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the potential for increased tourism revenues arising from construction of an airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development has commissioned a number of feasibility studies which have examined potential tourism revenues as a result of an airport. The first study was undertaken in 2005. A further analysis was undertaken in 2009. Assessments of revenue and expenditure scenarios were examined again in May 2010 as part of updated economic assessment work. Each of these analyses has concluded that an airport will contribute to a sharp increase in the number of tourists and to increases in tourism revenues.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what value for money assessment he has made of the decision to fund development of an airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: The business case for the St Helena airport agreed by Ministers has rigorously reviewed the value for money case for an airport. The value for money case builds on a number of economic and financial assessments which have been completed since 2005. All of these reports have come to the same conclusion, namely that the best long-term solution from an economic and financial perspective for both HMG and St Helena is to construct an airport. Building and running a new ship for St Helena would consign the island to long-term isolation, increase the island's dependence on UK aid indefinitely and therefore would cost the UK taxpayer more in the long run.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has plans to fund infrastructure projects in British Overseas Territories in addition to the new airport at St Helena.

Alan Duncan: Providing and maintaining infrastructure for Overseas Territories in receipt of UK budgetary assistance is an important priority for the UK aid programme. Every investment in infrastructure in OTs is subject to the Treasury's five case model. As a result, each investment is subject to rigorous value for money assessments. Several investments are currently being considered in other Overseas Territories, including new housing, school and hospital building programmes in Montserrat and a maintenance project for Calshot Harbour on Tristan Da Cunha.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding has been committed to the new St Helena airport by the private sector.

Alan Duncan: An independent review which looked at funding options concluded that a public-private partnership (PPP) approach was unlikely to deliver better value for money for taxpayers compared to the grant funded approach. The airport will therefore, in accordance with the review and consistent with decisions in the 2005 contract, be funded by the UK Government.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultation his Department held with local residents on the development of a new airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: The people of St Helena have been consulted extensively over the last 10 years about the construction of an airport. The first referendum on the subject took place in January 2002 when 71.6% of respondents voted in favour of an airport. Focus meetings were held in community centres around the island in 2006. In 2009 a formal public consultation was held. The outcome of this consultation mirrored the 2002 referendum, with very strong majority support for an airport.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of his decision to grant funding for a new airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: A full Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed airport has been carried out to UK standards and has been reviewed by the Institute of Environmental Management. The reply given on 14 June 2011, Official Report, column 751W, provides a fuller statement on this subject.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects on the economy of St Helena of his decision to grant funding for a new airport.

Alan Duncan: A full feasibility study was undertaken in 2005 which looked in detail at the impact on the economy of introducing air access to St Helena. This was reviewed in 2010. These studies show that an airport provides the best chance to reduce St Helena's dependence on UK aid. St Helena Government is currently reviewing its tax, investment, immigration and land policies and is enacting reforms in these and other areas. This is being done to encourage investment and private sector activity so that St Helena can take full advantage of the opportunities an airport will bring.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he received in advance of his decision to grant funding for the new St Helena airport.

Alan Duncan: The majority of St. Helenians, those living on the island and the diaspora living and working in Ascension, the Falklands, and in the UK, have long called for an airport to be built on St. Helena. These views are underlined by the results of recent referenda on the island which showed a clear majority in support of an airport. Many others connected with St. Helena have campaigned for opportunities for economic growth and development that only an airport can bring to the island.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason the Government's decision to fund an airport at St Helena was made in advance of the publication of the Government's strategy for the overseas territories.

Alan Duncan: This Government set out four conditions for the construction of an airport in July 2010, and these have now been met. The decision to fund an airport in St Helena is entirely consistent with the Government's vision for the overseas territories as vibrant and flourishing communities, generating wider opportunities for their people so they become less dependent on UK aid. It also brings to a close the uncertainty the British citizens of St Helena have been experiencing over their future since the airport project was approved in 2005 and 'paused' in 2008.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from what budget within his Department the funding for the new airport on St Helena will come.

Alan Duncan: The airport will be funded from the Department for International Development's programme capital budget.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects the construction of the airport on St Helena to be completed.

Alan Duncan: The construction phase is due to complete towards the end of 2015.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs before reaching his decision on a new airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: The Department of International Development has worked very closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at both official and ministerial level, in reaching the decision to build an airport on St. Helena. The Governor and Government of St. Helena have also played a full part in deliberations.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many bids he received for the design, build and operate contract for the new airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development received one bid. The other company that had submitted a tender prior to the 'pause' in negotiations announced by the Labour Government in December 2008 declined to resubmit its tender in June 2011.

St Helena: Airports

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the tendering process was for awarding the design, build and operate contract for the new airport on St Helena.

Alan Duncan: Following a market testing exercise conducted in October 2010, DFID reissued the Invitation to Tender to two bidders, Impregilo SpA and Basil Read (Pty) Limited. Both these companies had submitted tenders prior to the “pause” in negotiations announced by the Labour Government in December 2008. Impregilo declined to resubmit its tender in June 2011, leaving Basil Read (Pty) Ltd as the sole bidder. The tender was assessed and found to be compliant. The DFID/St Helena Government negotiation team entered into negotiations in early August 2011 and concluded negotiations in October 2011 at 20% below the previous offer in real terms, taking into account inflation and the value of the pound.

St Helena: Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria he used to determine that funding an airport on St Helena was an appropriate use of Official Development Assistance.

Alan Duncan: All the Department for International Development's (DFID's) support for St Helena meets the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA). Special provision is made for development assistance to the British Overseas Territories under the International Development Act (2002).

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2011, Official Report, column 1099W, on voter registration, what the reason was for the closure of the Electoral Participation Fund; and what assessment he has made of the effects of closure on electoral registration levels.

Mark Harper: The decision to end the Participation Fund was taken as part of the emergency Budget which was published on 22 June 2010. One of the main reasons for the decision was the under-use of the fund. In its last full year only £427,190 —17.1% of the total available—was claimed by electoral registration officers. The Government have made no assessment of the effects of closure on electoral registration levels, but as part of the transition to individual electoral registration is funding research on the current state of the electoral register and under-registered groups.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has received any requests from international observers to monitor the implementation of his proposed changes to electoral registration legislation.

Mark Harper: As of 7 November 2011 the Government have not received any requests from international observers to monitor the implementation of individual electoral registration.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will consider extending the powers of Scottish and Welsh chief electoral officers to enable then to conduct registration initiatives similar to those undertaken in Northern Ireland.

Mark Harper: Scotland and Wales do not have chief electoral officers. However, pursuant to the answer I gave on 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 342W, the Government are considering a number of ways to increase voter registration rates in the context of the move from household to individual electoral registration. This includes conducting research with groups who have traditionally been under-registered to explore ways in which they may be encouraged to register.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2011, Official Report, column 1100W, on electoral registration, what assessment he has made of the capacity for the results of dataset pilot tests to inform any new legislation on electoral registration within the time available.

Mark Harper: The data matching pilots will conclude this month and external evaluation will be completed by the Electoral Commission in March 2012. The results of these pilots will thereafter be available to Parliament to inform its deliberations on individual electoral registration.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2011, Official Report, columns 1100-1W, on electoral registration, how many prosecutions there were for not completing an electoral registration form between 1997 and 2007.

Mark Harper: The Government do not hold this information. The Electoral Commission does not hold data on the number of prosecutions initiated as a result of a failure to respond to the annual canvass between 1997 and 2007. However, they do hold data from 2008 to 2010 which can be found on the Electoral Commission's website at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/performance-standards/data-collection
	The Electoral Commission figures show that the number of prosecutions initiated as a result of a failure to respond to the annual canvass since 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			  Prosecutions 
			 2008 183 
			 2009 67 
			 2010 144 
		
	
	These data are collected by voluntary survey of electoral registration officers (EROs). The Electoral Commission does not have the power to collect this information and it is therefore not compulsory for EROs to complete the form.

Lobbying

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress he has made on establishing a statutory register of lobbyists.

Mark Harper: The Government will publish a consultation paper on the introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists this month.

EDUCATION

Adam Werritty

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions in an official capacity he has met Mr Adam Werritty since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 24 October 2011
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not met with Adam Werritty in an official capacity since May 2010.

Adoption

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many adoptive placements broke down in England in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: Information on the number of adoptions which breakdown following the making of an adoption order is not collected centrally.
	Information is available on the outcomes of children placed for adoption at 31 March 2007. This is published as part of the Adoption and Special Guardianship data pack, and shows that 5% of children placed for adoption at 31 March 2007 had not been adopted three years later. This includes 3% of children who remained as placed for adoption at 31 March 2010. The Adoption and Special Guardianship data pack can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/adoption/a0076713/datapack
	To produce this information for years other than 2007 would incur disproportionate cost.

Arts: Teachers

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) art, (b) music, (c) media studies and (d) drama teachers are teaching in each region of England.

Nick Gibb: Information on the qualifications and deployment of teachers in the secondary sector is collected in the new School Workforce Census, which took place in November 2010. The “School Workforce Census Statistical First Release” provides a head count of teachers to year groups 7-13 by subject in Table 12.
	The following table summarises the number of teachers of Art and Design, Music, Media Studies, and Drama, by English region:
	
		
			 Teachers of art and design, music, media studies, and drama in publicly funded secondary schools (head count) to year groups   7-  13 in 2010, by region year: November 2010—coverage: England 
			  Total head count  (1)   (rounded to nearest 10) 
			 Region Art and Design Music Media Studies Drama 
			 North-east 550 310 280 380 
			 South-west 1,470 810 800 1,210 
			 North-west 1,770 1,010 810 . 1,540 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,140 590 580 900 
			 East midlands 1,030 590 540 880 
			 West midlands 1,430 860 650 1,200 
			 East of England 1,440 870 800 1,320 
		
	
	
		
			 Inner London 630 350 370 480 
			 Outer London 1,260 710 780 1,020 
			 South-east 2,510 1,420 1,410 2,130 
			 Total 13,230 7,520 7,020 11,060 
			 (1) Teachers are counted once against each subject that they are teaching. Head counts are used, so a teacher teaching music and drama would be counted once in each. Note: Figures are based on over 158,000 secondary level teachers (66% of the secondary workforce) submitting curriculum information, and weighted to provide national estimates of the number of secondary level teachers by subject. Source: School Workforce Census

Departmental Data Protection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many official ministerial papers were recorded as not returned to his Department or otherwise unaccounted for in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 26 October 2011
	The Department's Cabinet documents officer has robust systems in place to ensure compliance with Cabinet Office guidance on handling papers. No ministerial papers have been recorded as not returned or unaccounted for since May 2010.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: Information for the Department representing the salary bands as at 31 March 2011 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Salary band Staff numbers 
			 £65,000 - £94,999 105 
			 £95,000 - £139,999 12 
			 £140,000 - £174,999 1 
			 £175,000+ 1 
		
	
	Salary information for the Department's arm's length bodies is a matter for them and is not held centrally. Contact information for them can be found at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/b0065313/disclosure-of-scs-posts-and-salary-information

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has a joint business agreement with the Defence Vetting Services, National Security Vetting (DBS NSV), part of the MOD (formerly the Defence Vetting Agency—DVA) for undertaking security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanisms he has put in place to monitor and evaluate the effect of ending education maintenance allowance on the (a) recruitment, (b) attendance levels, (c) retention and (d) achievement of students post-16.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 October 2011
	The Department for Education is committed to monitoring the effects of the new arrangements for 16-19 financial support through the commissioning of an independent evaluation of the impact of the new arrangements. This will help us to find out whether the fund is meeting the needs of young people, particularly those who are disproportionately likely not to participate post-16; and to assess the delivery of the policy.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of educational maintenance allowance on residents of Birmingham Ladywood constituency aged 16 to 17 years.

Nick Gibb: All local authorities must ensure that there are sufficient further education and training opportunities for every young person in the area; that young people are encouraged, enabled or assisted to participate in education and training; and that participation is monitored locally so that those young people who need support are clearly identified. Local authorities should also have processes in place to ensure that all 16 and 17 years olds were offered a place in education or training before the end of September this year. The Department for Education is monitoring young peoples' participation both nationally and locally, and will publish figures in due course.
	The Department for Education is also committed to monitoring the effects of the new arrangements for 16-19 financial support through an independent evaluation of the impact of the new arrangements. This will help us to assess whether the 16-19 Bursary Fund is meeting the needs of young people, particularly those who are disproportionately likely not to participate post-16, and to assess the delivery of the policy.

First Aid: Curriculum

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to including first aid in the new national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 November 2011
	First aid is currently included in the non-statutory programme of study for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) education. We are carrying out an internal review of PSHE, which is not part of the national curriculum. The purpose of this review is to identify ways in which schools can improve the quality of teaching of PSHE.
	We aim to reform the national curriculum so that it properly reflects the body of essential knowledge in key subjects and does not absorb the overwhelming majority of teaching time in schools. A less prescriptive national curriculum will also give teachers greater flexibility to use their professional judgement to design wider school curricula that best meet the needs of their pupils. Our proposals for the new scope of the national curriculum will be announced next year, following which there will be consultation before final decisions are made.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  on what number of pupils his Department bases its calculation of the funding for each free school in operation;
	(2)  how many pupils are enrolled in each free school in operation.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 October 2011
	Pupil funding for each free school is based on the Academy Trust's estimate of pupil numbers at the opening date following the enrolment process. The Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) then compares each trust's estimate of pupil numbers for the current academic year against actual pupil numbers in census returns. This comparison is used to make adjustments (either additional or clawed back grant) to pupil funding in subsequent years if any shortfall or increase in pupil numbers exceeds the threshold percentage set out in the funding agreement.
	We estimate that over 3000 pupils have enrolled during the first intake for the 24 free schools that opened in September 2011. This means that these schools are on course to reach their full capacity in the coming years. Further information about the number of children on roll at each school will be collected in the school census and published in due course.

Free Schools: Finance

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 208W, when he expects to finalise the budget allocation for free schools for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: The budget allocation for free schools for 2011-12 will be finalised in due course.

Grammar Schools

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the future provision of grammar schools; and what plans he has for the future number of grammar schools.

Nick Gibb: Grammar schools often represent the very best in standards and attainment in our education system with a high proportion of young people going on to study at the most competitive universities. It is not possible, under the prohibitions in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to establish any new wholly selective school and the Government have no plans to amend this legislation.

Grandparents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department produces for social workers on the role of grandparents; whether he plans to amend any such guidance; if he will place in the Library a copy of any such guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not produce guidance for social workers on the role of grandparents. In April 2011 new statutory guidance to local authorities came into force which sets out the framework for the provision of support to family and friends carers and includes a requirement for local authorities to publicise the support and services available locally. This statutory guidance has been placed in the House Libraries.

Health Education: Nutrition

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the provision in schools of education on food.

Nick Gibb: Food education (also known as “food technology”), is currently part of the design and technology curriculum. It is compulsory for all pupils in maintained primary schools, at key stages 1 and 2. Although it is not currently a compulsory part of the secondary curriculum, most secondary schools in England are teaching practical cooking to 11 to 14-year-olds, including food education, at key stage 3, as it is one of two topics within the design and technology curriculum that must be taught. The National Curriculum Review which is currently under way will advise the Government as to which subjects should remain in the national curriculum and at what key stages they should feature. Our proposals for the content of the new national curriculum will be published early in 2012.

Mathematics: Science

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to encourage more pupils to take up mathematics and science subjects.

Nick Gibb: In June 2011 the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced that the Government would be spending up to £135 million over the current spending review period to support the take-up of mathematics and science in schools. This funding will support incentives for graduates to train to teach mathematics and science; high quality continuing professional development for existing teachers in these subjects; and greater take-up of three separate sciences at GCSE and further mathematics at A level. In addition, we have already announced that mathematics and science will be compulsory subjects within the national curriculum following the current review, and we have included them within the new English baccalaureate.
	A recent survey by the National Centre for Social Research showed that 29% of year 9 pupils had opted to study triple science at GCSE while a further 54% had opted for core and additional science.
	The Schools White Paper signalled the Government's intention to provide stronger incentives such as training bursaries of up to £20,000 to science graduates to attract high calibre recruits into teaching.

Music: Education

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his response to the Henley Review of Music Education, when he plans to publish his national plan for music education.

Nick Gibb: We will shortly publish a National Plan for Music Education, which will reform the delivery and funding of music education. It will ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to learn an instrument, learn to sing, have opportunities to play in ensembles and have access to musical progression routes regardless of where they live and their family circumstances. The needs of the pupil will be at the heart of the plan. Through it, the Government will signal their commitment to ensuring that all pupils have access to high quality music education.

New Schools Network

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will assess whether the condition in the grant agreement between his Department and the New Schools Network has been compromised;
	(2)  what (a) meetings and (b) events organised by his Department representatives of the New Schools Network have been invited since May 2010;
	(3)  what bodies his Department has interviewed in connection with the grant agreement to provide support for the free school pre-application process;
	(4)  how his Department has been providing support for the free school pre-application process since 30 September 2011;
	(5)  whether his Department has provided (a) financial and (b) other support to the New Schools Network in addition to that provided by the grant agreement.

Nick Gibb: As with all grants of this nature, officials considered NSN's performance and compliance regularly. There were no breaches of the grant agreement. The Department has not provided any financial or other support to NSN in addition to that provided under the terms of the grant agreement. The Department has not provided any specific pre-application support since 30 September although we are aware NSN, in its role as an independent charity, has been available to offer support to free school proposers. No interviews have been carried out by the Department in connection with the recent competition to award a grant to provide support for the free school pre-application process. Ministers and Special Advisers have met NSN on several occasions since May 2010; officials have met NSN frequently. Providing information on the exact number, and type of events, and meetings could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the conclusion of his summit with young people in May 2011 that young people preferred face-to-face professional career guidance, how he plans that access to such guidance will be assured under the new National Careers Service.

Nick Gibb: There is a range of evidence suggesting that young people like to access advice in a variety of ways including face-to-face, in groups or online. Schools are best placed to know what support their pupils need. The Government recognises that many young people can benefit from a face-to-face discussion of their skills, abilities and interests to help them think through future education and career options. We will highlight this important issue to schools through statutory guidance in advance of the new duty to secure access to independent careers guidance commencing in September 2012, subject to the passage of the Education Bill. The guidance will place a clear expectation on schools that they should secure face-to-face careers guidance where it is the most suitable support, particularly for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Schools may choose to work in partnership with providers engaged in delivering the National Careers Service, or with other providers, as they see fit. The National Careers Service will be required to meet a robust, high quality standard and all providers involved in the service will be expected to be accredited to the standard by April 2013. It was recently announced that this quality standard will be the revised matrix standard. The standard will assist schools in making well-informed decisions about which providers to work with.

Teachers: Pensions

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effects of planned changes to teacher pension contributions on the proportion of teachers who opt out of the Teachers Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: At the spending review the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that some additional members, amounting to 1% of the value of the paybill, would opt-out of all the public service schemes as a result of the proposed increase in pension contributions.
	A consultation on the proposed increase to contributions for members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme in 2012-13 was recently concluded and the Department is considering all responses received prior to the deadline. The Government are committed to implementing the contributions increase in a way which will protect the lower paid from the full impact of the changes and will therefore reduce the risk of increased opt-outs from the scheme.

Teachers: Pensions

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what initiatives he plans to introduce to (a) retain talented teachers and (b) encourage high-calibre graduates to enter the teaching profession after the introduction of his planned changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: The reformed Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) will remain a valuable part of the remuneration package available to teachers and will continue to play an important role in recruiting and retaining teachers. The reformed scheme will be introduced from 2015 and proposals are still under discussion with unions. We are taking the teaching profession's views very seriously, to reach agreement on a scheme which will reflect the distinctive nature of the teaching profession and the value of the work carried out by teachers. Recruitment and retention issues will be considered alongside the implementation of the reformed TPS.

Teachers: Pensions

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to carry out an independent valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Government put valuations of the public service pension schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the consultation was announced in Budget 2011, but valuations remain on hold. Valuations are dependent on assumptions about the value of future costs, design of benefits and other factors. Many of these are currently under review as part of the Government's proposed reforms of the public sector pension schemes. A decision on when to undertake the next valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme will be taken in due course.

Teachers: Pensions

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a financial valuation of the teachers' pension scheme since the last such valuation in 2004.

Nick Gibb: The Government put valuations of the public service pension schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the consultation was announced in Budget 2011, but valuations remain on hold. Valuations are dependent on assumptions about the value of future costs, design of benefits and other factors. Many of these are currently under review as part of the Government's proposed reforms of the public sector pension schemes. A decision on when to undertake the next valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme will be taken in due course.

Teachers: Training

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average UCAS points score was of people starting (a) a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course, (b) the Graduate Teacher Programme, (c) a Bachelor of Education course, (d) a BA/BSc with Qualified Teacher Status course and (e) the Teach First programme in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: UCAS scores of postgraduate teacher trainees are not collected centrally. The following table shows the average UCAS tariff score of first-year college-based undergraduate teacher trainees from 2002/03 to 2009/10 inclusive. It includes both bachelor of education courses and BA/BSc with qualified teacher status courses.
	
		
			 Average UCAS tariff score of first-year undergraduate teacher trainees, 2002/03 to 2009/10 
			 Academic year Average UCAS points score 
			 2002/03 238.7 
			 2003/04 249.1 
			 2004/05 255.1 
			 2005/06 266.5 
			 2006/07 277.2 
			 2007/08 265.0 
			 2008/09 283.0 
			 2009/10 291.4 
			 Notes: 1. UCAS tariff score was used to assess candidates from 2002/03 onwards. 2. UCAS introduced the tariff score to take account of curriculum 2000. It was designed to make different qualifications comparable. It is based on a number of qualifications including A/AS levels. Grade A* at A level scores 140 points; grade A at A level scores 120 points; grade B scores 100 points; grade C scores 80 points; grade D scores 60 points and grade E scores 40 points. Tariff scores cover those entrants for whom data are collected. Tariff score data are not collected for some qualifications, including access courses, OND/ONC, HND/HNC, GCE, A/SCE, Higher, GNVQ/GSVQ, NVQ/SVQ level 3. 3. Coverage is undergraduate courses in universities and other higher education institutions. 4. Includes both bachelor of education courses and BA/BSc with qualified teacher status courses as they are combined in the data source. Source: TDA's Performance Profiles.

Teachers: Training

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of people starting (a) a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course, (b) the Graduate Teacher Programme and (c) the Teach First programme had previously graduated from their undergraduate studies in each degree class in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: The following tables show the number of first-year trainees on (a) Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses, (b) the Graduate Teacher Programme and (c) the Teach First programme, between 2000/01 and 2009/10, by classification of their first degree. Information relating to qualifications on entry to the Graduate Teacher Programme is only available from 2003/04, and for Teach First from 2005/06.
	
		
			 (a) First-year primary and secondary trainees in their first year of mainstream initial teacher training (ITT) courses, by classification of first degree, 2000/01 to 2009/10 
			 Academic year 1st (percentage) 2:1 (percentage) 2:2 (percentage 3 (percentage) Pass (percentage) Degree class not known  ,   or non-UK qualification (percentage) Total (percentage) Total number of first-year postgraduate trainees on mainstream ITT courses 
			 2000/01 6 44 35 4 3 8 100 19,060 
			 2001/02 5 45 35 4 3 8 100 20,720 
			 2002/03 6 46 34 4 3 6 100 22,180 
			 2003/04 7 47 34 4 3 6 100 24,640 
			 2004/05 7 47 32 3 2 8 100 24,930 
			 2005/06 8 48 31 3 2 8 100 24,600 
			 2006/07 8 48 32 3 2 8 100 23,780 
			 2007/08 7 48 30 3 2 9 100 22,810 
		
	
	
		
			 2008/09 8 49 30 3 2 8 100 22,700 
			 2009/10 9 50 28 3 3 7 100 24,070 
			 Notes: 1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, school-centred ITT and Open University but excludes employment based routes and cases where Qualified Teacher Status was granted on assessment without a course of initial teacher training. 2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's Performance Profiles 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) First-year trainees on the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), by classification of first degree,2003/04 to 2009/10 
			 Academic year 1st (percentage) 2:1 (percentage) 2:2 (percentage) 3 (percentage) Pass (percentage) Degree class not known, or non-UK qualification (percentage) Total (percentage) Total number of first-year trainees on GTP 
			 2003/04 7 38 33 5 8 9 100 5,210 
			 2004/05 8 38 32 5 9 8 100 5,340 
			 2005/06 8 40 33 5 7 7 100 5,410 
			 2006/07 8 44 31 5 6 7 100 5,240 
			 2007/08 9 44 32 4 5 6 100 5,190 
			 2008/09 8 45 31 4 5 7 100 5,080 
			 2009/10 11 45 30 4 5 6 100 5,070 
			 Notes: 1. Data for earlier years is not available. 2. Excludes cases where qualified teacher status is granted on assessment without a course of initial teacher training. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA 's Performance Profiles 
		
	
	
		
			 (c) First-year trainees on the Teach First programme, by classification of first degree, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			 Academic year 1st (percentage) 2:1 (percentage) 2:2 (percentage) 3 (percentage) Pass (percentage) Degree class not known, or non-UK qualification (percentage) Total (percentage) Total number of first-year trainees on Teach First programme 
			 2005/06 25 71 4 0 0 1 100 170 
			 2006/07 18 70 8 0 0 4 100 250 
			 2007/08 25 69 4 0 0 2 100 260 
			 2008/09 22 73 4 0 0 1 100 370 
			 2009/10 29 64 6 0 0 1 100 480 
			 Notes: 1. Data for earlier years is not available. 2. Excludes cases where qualified teacher status is granted on assessment without a course of initial teacher training. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's Performance Profiles

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Banks: Loans

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with banks and other financial institutions on identity checks needed to take out bank loans.

Edward Davey: I have held no such discussions.
	The Joint Money Laundering Steering Group, an industry association, produces guidance on how financial services firms should interpret rules on identity checks, as set out in the UK money laundering regulations.

Business: Surveys

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the recommendations in the British Chamber of Commerce report entitled, Workforce Survey—Small Businesses.

Edward Davey: This Department is leading the cross-Government Employment Law review and is looking at all evidence about the operation of the underpinning legislative framework and burdens on business, including from the British Chambers of Commerce, other business representative groups, trade unions and other stakeholders. A key objective of the review is making it easier for a business to take on staff. The review will also consider ideas that emerge from the Red Tape Challenge aimed at facilitating the recruitment of employees by businesses. Where we can make legislation easier to understand, improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, we will.

Charities

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Edward Davey: As the Department does not separately identify charitable organisations within its supplier base the information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Company Accounts

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider the merits of giving Companies House a duty to investigate companies which (a) persistently file late accounts and (b) fail to file accounts; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: To combat persistent late filing of accounts Parliament introduced, in addition to the existing penalties for filing accounts late, a double penalty for companies who file late in successive years; Companies House, which is responsible for issuing late filing penalties, has issued 16,832 of these double penalties between April and September this year. When companies fail to file accounts at all, Companies House contacts the company to investigate if it is still in operation; if it is not they will take action to remove the company from the register, and in the financial year ending 31 March 2011 53,550 companies were removed for this reason. If the company is still required Companies House will, as a last resort, prosecute the company directors for failing to file the accounts. During the financial year ending 31 March 2011 Companies House prosecuted over 3,000 directors for this reason.
	As a result of these initiatives there has been a substantial fall in the number of penalties issued in 2011. Therefore, I do not believe that Companies House needs further investigative powers at this time.

Company Liquidations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount owed to unsecured creditors by firms in liquidation in each of the last three years.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service (“The Service”) does not collate a total figure for the amount due to unsecured creditors by firms in liquidation but is able to provide details as to the average amount owed in compulsory liquidations.
	For the year 2008/09, the mean level of debt owed by companies in compulsory liquidation was £584,134 and the median was £67,500. For 2009/10 the mean level of debt owed by companies in compulsory liquidation was £1,132,000 and the median was £81,000.
	Profiling data are not available for the period 2010/11.

Company Liquidations

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many liquidations which commenced (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15 and (d) 20 years or more ago have not yet been finalised.

Edward Davey: This information cannot be provided for all liquidations because the costs of retrieving it are disproportionate.
	According to the case database maintained by The Insolvency Service, there are:
	264 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made five or more years ago;
	64 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made ten or more years ago;
	30 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made 15 or more years ago;
	three compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made 20 or more years ago where the official receiver has not applied for release as liquidator.

Construction: Self-employed

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people were self-employed in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011
	As Director General, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were self-employed in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. (79391)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Due to small sample sizes, estimates are not available for the Jarrow constituency and South Tyneside. Estimates are also not available for periods 1997 to 1999 or for the UK for some periods - estimates for Great Britain have been provided as an alternative.
	Table 1 shows the number of people self-employed in the construction industry in the available geographies for the 12 month periods ending in February for 2000 to 2004 from the LFS and for the 12 month periods ending in March for 2005 to 2011.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of persons  (1)   self-employed in the construction industry in each year since 2000 
			 Thousand 
			 12 months ending: North east Great Britain UK 
			 February 2000 16 622 n/a 
			 February 2001 13 630 n/a 
			 February 2002 14 665 n/a 
			 February 2003 18 698 n/a 
			 February 2004 18 756 787 
			 March 2005 20 795 828 
			 March 2006 24 805 836 
			 March 2007 24 830 860 
			 March 2008 25 839 870 
		
	
	
		
			 March 2009 24 815 845 
			 March 2010 19 780 810 
			 March 2011(2) **21 *767 *794 
			 n/a = Data not available. (1) Persons aged 16 and over. (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey and Annual Labour Force Survey

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued.

Edward Davey: The information requested covering the period May 2010 until June 2011 is published on The Ministry of Justice website
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	(see full statistical data reports). This information is not available on a monthly basis.
	Information where no substantive response issued within 40 working days is not separately identified.
	Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for July 2011 onwards will be published in due course.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010.

Edward Davey: The information requested covering the period January 2010 until June 2011 is published on the Ministry of Justice website
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
	(see full statistical data reports)
	Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for July 2011 onwards will be published in due course.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility.

Edward Davey: Departmental officials would normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
	However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person (QP) that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by government, the qualified person must be a Minister or, if held by a non-ministerial department, the persons in charge of that department (for example, the chief executive).
	The qualified persons opinion in BIS is obtained via a submission to the relevant Minister. This would normally be the Minister responsible for the subject matter. The submission sets out details of the request and the arguments for and against disclosure.

Departmental Procurement

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible used to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010.

Edward Davey: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), said in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (John Pugh), on 15 November 2010, Official Report, columns 615-6W, that the Government have announced a more specific and innovative approach to efficiency and reform across the public sector, including:
	a reduction in administration budgets of 34% across the whole of Whitehall and its arm's length bodies saving £5.9 billion a year by 2014-15;
	radically reducing the number of arm's length bodies across Government; and
	the Efficiency and Reform Group's tough new efficiency regime which will drive savings in procurement, major projects and estate management;
	and that, in result, Departments would no longer be required to report against the previous Government's efficiency target.
	In August 2011, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), announced that the Efficiency and Reform Group's new measures had saved £3.75 billion over 2010/11.
	This impact was assessed using methodologies in the table. The assessment has been independently verified by Government auditors who found the benefits assertions to be fairly calculated and presented.
	These savings are borne out in Department accounts. The table on page 79 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 (HC1001) reports that non-pay Gross Administration Costs for BIS reduced from £187 million in 2009-10 to £140 million in 2010-11. Figures in this report are prepared in accordance with HM Treasury's Financial Reporting Manual for central Government Departments and associated Treasury resource accounting and budgeting guidance.
	
		
			 Table—Activity and Calculation Method 
			 Area Activity description Evidence Base/Calculation 
			 Consulting Government put in place a moratorium on new consulting spend, and extensions to existing contracts. Savings are calculated by subtracting total departmental reported spend on consultancy for 2010/11 from total departmental reported spend on consultancy for 2009/10. 
			  Where spend was considered operationally critical (for example, where it might put at risk critical services) an exception process existed for Department Ministers to sign off expenditure over £20,000. To reduce the risk of costs shifting between categories, we also monitored expenditure on other Professional Services categories, including contingent labour. 
			    
			 Crown Commercial Government has renegotiated deals with some of the largest suppliers to Government. The method of calculation varies according to the initiative that yields the saving, but was based on cash releasing savings against a baseline of what would have otherwise been spent. This was often price savings against the previous price paid. 
			   Savings agreed with suppliers are recorded in Memoranda of Understanding as guaranteed-in-year or conditional-in-year savings. 
			   Realised savings were subsequently tracked back to departmental verification of supplier progress reports. 
			    
			 Contingent Labour Government have significantly cut the number of temporary staff. Savings are calculated by subtracting total departmental reported spend on contingent labour for 2010/11 from total departmental reported spend on contingent labour for 2009/10. 
			    
			 Communications Government froze all new marketing spend unless it is an operational necessity. Where spend was proposed. Ministerial sign-off was required for £20,000 or above. Calculations compare departmental spend on marketing and advertising through COI for 2010/11 with that for 2009/10. 
			    
			 Centralising Procurement Government have started to centralise spend on common goods and services to drive down prices. For each initiative, calculations are performed using individual benefit methodologies that set out how savings will be calculated against an 2009/10 price baseline. 
			  These savings derive from the 10 categories of expenditure targeted for centralisation, and relate to price savings through increased aggregation. Evidence is management information provided by suppliers. 
			    
			 ICT We implemented: Calculations are based on departmental reports of spend that has not proceeded. 
			  (a) a moratorium on all new ICT spend above £1 million; and Spend that has not gone ahead in 2010/11 is recorded, as a result of stopping or reducing spend. 
			  (b) a review of all on-going ICT commitments. Further, sustainable savings are targeted through the Government ICT strategy. 
			  Departments also reported those projects that were closed before undergoing the review.  
			    
			 Major Projects We reviewed the Government's biggest projects to see where 2010/11 costs could practically be reduced within contractual constraints, or wasteful projects stopped altogether. HMT have provided assurance that the relevant amounts were removed from departmental budgets following the Major Projects related negotiations. 
			  We have halted or curtailed spend on four projects:  
			  14-19 Reform—£60 million  
			  Identity Cards—£50 million  
			  Highways Agency Projects—£54 million  
			  Whole Farm—£5 million  
			  We have redacted £22 million of potential double counting from these figures, that arises between this work and our supplier renegotiation work stream. £14.9 million arises from the Home Office National Identity Cards and £6.7 million from DEFRA Whole Farm.  
			    
		
	
	
		
			 Property We put in place national property controls such that signature of new property leases or lease extensions were approved centrally. Calculations are property by property based on the amount Departments have reported saved through the Government's property database by non-renewal of property leases at lease breaks or upon lease expiry. 
			  It has not always been possible to net off all costs associated with vacating buildings. However, we have also not claimed savings in respect of revenue from property disposals.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to deliver the efficiency gains required by HM Treasury.

Edward Davey: holding answer 27 October 2011
	The 2010 spending review committed the Department to a 25% real-terms reduction in our budgets by 2014-15 to make our contribution to the Government's deficit reduction targets—a challenge BIS is already meeting through significant reductions in staff and the streamlining of our partner organisations.
	During 2010-11 BIS and its partner organisations implemented the spending controls established by the Cabinet Office and Treasury in May 2010. These included tight controls over pay and recruitment, advertising and marketing spend, consultancy, ICT, estates and procurement. In particular the Department:
	delivered £836 million of in-year savings as a contribution to the Emergency Budget announcement in June;
	undertook work on public bodies reform—in particular the transition of responsibilities from the regional development agencies (RDAs) to successor bodies;
	implemented new controls on marketing and consultancy spending, and a freeze on public sector pay in line with Cabinet Office guidance;
	significantly reduced the administration budget for the Department, including partner organisations, with an 11% reduction in 2010-11;
	reduced the number of staff within the core Department by 576 during 2010-11; and
	as our Annual Report and Resource Accounts of 2010-11 show, staff costs were £12.7 million lower in 2010-11 than 2009-10 and other administration costs were £47.5 million lower in 2010-11 than 2009-10.
	Cabinet Office guidance for the pay freeze was that there should be no pay increases for staff earning more than £21,000. The exception to this was cases where Departments had any legally-binding contractual commitments. BIS has been unable to create a single pay system as a result of the freeze and the pay arrangements of the legacy Departments apply. Staff on former BERR terms have a contractual pay arrangement and so received an award during the pay freeze. Staff on former DIUS terms did not.

Departmental Secondment

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what senior representatives of the business sector have been seconded to work in his Department in the last 18 months.

Edward Davey: Eighteen months ago the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), introduced a freeze on all external recruitment—including secondments—into the civil service.
	Since then, I have exceptionally agreed to the secondment into BIS of two individuals on very short term secondments and four individuals on medium term arrangements. I have done this in order to provide the Department with professional and financial expertise necessary to conduct the essential business of the Department and which did not already exist in sufficient quantity within the civil service.

Departmental Travel

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on first class travel by (a) air, (b) boat and (c) train since May 2010.

Edward Davey: Since May 2010 to the end of September 2011, BIS (excluding UKTI and other Agencies) has spent the following amounts on first class travel:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Air 0 
			 Boat 0 
			 Train 107,330 
		
	
	Spend on first class travel continues to fall in line with the Department's commitment to sustainable travel and as part of our cost reduction programme. As a comparison the data on first class travel for the last three financial years set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Air  
			 2009/10 143,479 
			 2010/11 0 
			 2011/12(1) 0 
			   
			 Boat  
			 No spend recorded — 
			   
			 Rail  
			 2009/10 387,949 
			 2010/11 157,964 
			 2011/12(1) 20,372 
			 (1) To end September 2011.

Departmental Work Experience

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: In the last 12 months the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not offered any unpaid or expenses-only internships.
	Information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPB's) are not held centrally and will incur disproportionate costs. I have approached Departments and agencies and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.

Employment Tribunals: Reform

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress his Department has made on reform of employment tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: Earlier this year, the Government launched the ‘Resolving Workplace Disputes’ consultation, a significant step in the employment law review. This consultation sought views on measures to encourage the early resolution of disputes and ensure that, where parties do need to come to an employment tribunal, the process is as swift, user friendly and effective as possible. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), has already confirmed the Government's intention to proceed with one of these measures; to extend the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from one to two years and we will be publishing our Government response in the coming weeks, setting out other measures that we are intending to take forward, to deliver reform across the employment tribunal system.

Farepak

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects that the liquidation of Farepak will conclude.

Edward Davey: On 19 October 2011 the joint liquidators of Farepak issued reports to both creditors and agents on the progress of the liquidation. These reports refer to ongoing work being undertaken towards bringing legal proceedings against third parties with the objective of securing more money for creditors. Given the nature of the intended action I understand that it is not possible to provide an estimate on when the liquidation will be concluded.

Farepak

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on whether the claims management team for Farepak (in liquidation) have been informed of the death of any (a) agent and (b) customers of that firm.

Edward Davey: This Department does not hold this information. The Liquidators' claims management team are responsible for updating any change of details of agents or customers, including where there is notification of death.

Hair Dyes: Chemicals

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the safety of para-phenylenediamine in hair dye products.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 7 November 2011
	Para-phenylenediamine has been assessed several times over the last few years as part of the European Commission's hair dye strategy.

Insolvency

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses (a) were liquidated and (b) went into administration in each month since April 2011.

Edward Davey: Statistics on the number of (a) liquidations and (b) administrations in England and Wales and Scotland in each month from April to September 2011 are provided in Table 1 as follows. Official Statistics for Northern Ireland on a monthly basis are not available; figures for October 2011 are not yet available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Liquidations and administrations in England and Wales and Scotland  (1) 
			  England and Wales Scotland 
			 2011 Number of liquidations  (2) Number of administrations Number of liquidations  (2) Number of administrations 
			 April 1,187 219 86 21 
			 May 1,542 214 128 19 
			 June 1,547 262 134 21 
			 July 1,582 256 90 16 
			 August 1,283 235 124 19 
			 September 1,275 182 106 17 
			 (1) Source—Insolvency Service and Companies House. (2) Compulsory liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations.

Insolvency

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of amending section 233 of the Insolvency Act to prevent suppliers demanding payments upon insolvency where such payments make company rescue harder or reduce dividends to creditors.

Edward Davey: The Government have previously announced that we would consider the case for updating section 233 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and the wider issue of termination clauses. We are aware of the problems that can be caused for those seeking to rescue a struggling company by such clauses. We are currently looking into the merits of any change, and have been discussing this with interested parties.

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to set a cap on the fees charged by insolvency practitioners.

Edward Davey: I confirm that I have no plans to bring forward proposals to cap the fees charged by insolvency practitioners, which are properly a matter for the creditors or the court.
	However, the Government believe that it is important for creditors and others affected by insolvency to have confidence that the fees charged by insolvency practitioners are fair. For this reason, earlier this year the Government issued a consultation on a set of reforms, which included a proposal to introduce a non-court based mechanism for creditors to complain about the level of fees charged by insolvency practitioners.
	This Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way forward shortly.

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage greater transparency in the insolvency sector.

Edward Davey: Earlier this year the Government issued a consultation on a set of reforms to the regulation of insolvency practitioners, which included proposals to improve the transparency, consistency and accountability of the insolvency regulatory regime.
	This Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way forward shortly.

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average time taken to settle an insolvency case was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service does not record this information.
	Following the introduction of the Enterprise Act 2002, administration has a statutory time limit of 12 months, although this may be extended with the permission of the court or by the agreement of creditors.
	Liquidations do not have a statutory time limit, but research conducted by the Insolvency Service suggests that the average length of a liquidation is around two to 2.5 years.
	The Enterprise Act 2002 also introduced a statutory 12-month time limit for bankruptcy, and provides for earlier discharge in some cases.

Insolvency Service: Finance

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget for the Insolvency Service has been in each financial year since 2000-01.

Edward Davey: Budget information for The Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, is published in the agency’s annual corporate plan and is available from 2004-05 as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Official Receiver administration 55.8 68.0 72.5 122.4 135.0 155.1 130.2 93.2 
			 Debt Relief Orders — — — — — 1.9 1.8 2.5 
			 Enforcement (net) 34,3 38.1 38.1 42.2 39.4 40.5 39.8 35.3 
			 Redundancy Payments — 8.7 8.7 8.7 8.2 11.8 9.8 9.2 
			 Estate Accounting 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.0 
			 Policy 1.6 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.6 
			 Insolvency Practitioner Regulation 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.4 1.4 1.5 
			 Other 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 1.7 1.6 1.7 
			 Total 95.5 121.0 125.4 181.5 190.9 217.3 189.1 146.5 
		
	
	Records are not available prior to 2004. The latest agency corporate plan can be viewed at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/about-us/strategy-and-planning

Insolvency: Complaints

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints have been received by the Insolvency Service in respect of insolvency practitioners and administrators in each of the last five years.

Edward Davey: The vast majority of insolvency practitioners are regulated by one of seven recognised professional bodies. Any complaint about the conduct of an insolvency practitioner is directed towards and dealt with by the appropriate recognised professional body.
	Information regarding the number of complaints received by the recognised professional bodies is contained within the Insolvency Service's Annual Review of Insolvency Practitioner Regulation, which also includes complaints made directly to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), in relation to the small number of insolvency practitioners authorised directly by him.
	The following information is available regarding the number of complaints recorded in the last five years including those relating specifically to administration:
	
		
			  Total complaints Administration 
			 2006 468 81 
			 2007 550 89 
			 2008 618 181 
			 2009 828 197 
			 2010 531 129

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in his Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills had 170 staff working in its legal section at the end of June 2011. Companies House had seven staff working in its legal department. There were 57 staff working in the legal departments of our non-departmental public bodies.
	Staff in these Departments cover a number of roles including lawyers, paralegals, investigation offices and administrative support.

Legal Opinion

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) his Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was set up in 2009. The Department accesses legal advice from its own Departmental lawyers as well as from external counsel and solicitors, Treasury Solicitors and parliamentary counsel. Details of expenditure on internal and external legal advice for the Department since 2009 are set out as follows:
	
		
			 Million 
			  2009/10 2010/11 2011/12  (1) 
			     
			 Legal advice external 6.9 7.6 2.9 
			 Instructing counsel(2) 0.5 0.8 0.4 
			 Legal advice internal 5.0 4.7 2.1 
			 Total(2) 11.9 12.3 5.0 
			 (1) Data for this year covers the six month period April to September 2011 (2) Total = External + Internal advice. Counsel costs are within external advice figures. 
		
	
	The cost for counsel only includes the payments made directly by the Department. Information about the cost of counsel instructed by Treasury Solicitors on behalf of the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not keep central records of the number of times it has been taken to court. The Department only keeps a record of open judicial review cases and there are currently 35.

Manufactured Goods: Origin Marking

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the launch of his Make it in Britain campaign, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that British-manufactured products are labelled as made in Britain.

Mark Prisk: There are no plans for the ‘Make it in Great Britain’ campaign to cover the labelling of British-manufactured products.
	The campaign will focus on transforming outdated opinions of UK manufacturing—highlighting Britain's outstanding manufacturing companies, large and small, and our world-beating companies' excellent reputation for innovation.
	It is all part of the Government's drive to encourage long-term economic growth and rebalance the economy.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what arrangements are in place to ensure regional balance in his Department's expert and adviser groups.

Mark Prisk: There are no arrangements in place to ensure regional balance.
	Appointments to these groups are made following processes which are fair, open and transparent, command public confidence and result in appointments which are made on merit.
	Where there is a specific requirement for membership of certain groups to represent regions this will be implicit in the job specification when an appointment is advertised.

Regional Growth Fund

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when Stobart Group and Prologic will receive the funding allocated from round one of the Regional Growth Fund.

Mark Prisk: The Stobart Group and Prologis have told the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that, subject to satisfactory completion of confirmatory due diligence, they intend to start to draw down their Regional Growth Fund allocations in January 2012.

Regional Growth Fund

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether any of the recommended bids put forward for the second round of the Regional Growth Fund by the Independent Advisory Panel were amended by the Ministerial Group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister;
	(2)  whether any of the recommended bids put forward for the second round of the Regional Growth Fund by its Independent Advisory Panel were rejected by the Ministerial Group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Independent Advisory Panel's job is to advise Ministers on which bids to the Regional Growth Fund to support. Final decisions on which bids to support rest with the Ministerial Group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Regional Growth Fund

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent on due diligence in respect of bids submitted to the Regional Growth Fund in each region.

Mark Prisk: It is for successful bidders to pay the cost of due diligence.

Supermarkets: Competition

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made towards the establishment of the Groceries Code Adjudicator; and what proposals he has for the powers of the post holder.

Edward Davey: The draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill has undergone pre-legislative scrutiny, and Parliament published the Government's response to the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee report on 15 October 2011. We now aim to introduce a Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	The powers proposed for the adjudicator are set out in the draft Bill.

Trade: Developing Countries

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to (a) ensure that the Doha Round talks are completed and (b) secure an agreement on trade for developing countries by the end of 2012 .

Edward Davey: While it is now clear that the full Doha Development Round will not be concluded in 2011, the Government are continuing to press for the best possible outcome at the 8th World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference in December this year. We are working closely with the European Commission, EU member states and other WTO members to ensure that there is a clear way forward for the Doha Round in 2012 which delivers trade liberalisation, strengthens the multilateral system and advances the interests of poor countries.
	The Government have always been clear that development is a key priority of the Doha Round, and we have consistently emphasised this where possible.
	We are disappointed that the proposed “early harvest” package focusing on issues for the least developed countries failed earlier this year, but we will continue to press for the best outcome possible for poor countries, including at the forthcoming WTO ministerial. We also continue to press for agreement for countries to live up to commitments made to advance the interests of poor countries, including by providing duty-free, quota-free access for least developed country exports.
	The UK is supporting the poorest countries to achieve more balanced outcomes in international trade negotiations through the Trade Advocacy Fund. This major initiative will provide high-quality legal and technical advice, training and logistical support, and will help the poorest countries secure development outcomes in the Doha talks.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Consultants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in the Government Equalities Office; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: As of 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office has been part of the Home Office and is no longer a separate Government Department. The information requested was provided by the Minister for Immigration, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green).

E-mail

Jack Dromey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in the Government Equalities Office use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of government business.

Lynne Featherstone: The Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct government business.